It didn’t take Scott Laughton very long to send a message to the Philadelphia Flyers’ management about where he belongs.
The Ontario Hockey League named Laughton the OHL “Player of the Week” today after a fantastic performance this week in the OHL. From the press release:
“The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Philadelphia Flyers prospect Scott Laughton of the Oshawa Generals is the OHL Player of the Week for the week ending October 6 after leading the league with nine points in three games scoring three goals with six assists and a plus-minus rating of plus-1.
Laughton returned from the Flyers this week and contributed immediately to the Generals’ who picked up three wins in three games. He also becomes the second member of his club to win the award in three weeks following 2014 NHL Draft prospect Michael Dal Colle in Opening Week. On Thursday night in his first game back with the club, Laughton scored twice and added two assists claiming first star honours in a big 7-1 win over East Division rivals the Peterborough Petes. One night later the Gennies hosted the Bulls in another East Division clash with Laughton collecting two assists as part of the 3-2 win. His week wrapped up on Sunday night with another multi-point game scoring once with two assists as first star of a 4-1 win over the Guelph Storm.
Laughton, a 19-year-old from Oakville, ON, is playing in his fourth OHL season with the Generals. The third overall pick in the 2010 OHL Priority Selection, Laughton then became a first round pick of the Flyers in 2012 chosen 20th overall and appeared in five NHL games last season. In 49 games with the Generals in 2012-13, he set career-high numbers with 23 goals and 56 points in 49 games.”
Laughton could stand to play against tougher competition, but he was ineligible to play in the AHL under the current transfer agreement between the NHL and the CHL. As long as he continues maturing, he should be a valuable asset whenever he does finally make the roster for good.
Good for Scott Laughton, he should be up with the Flyers for 10 games but it appears the brass pigeon holed him as a 4th line center incapable of displacing Griroux, Lecavalier, or Courturier even for a token shift for fan’s interests. I know Laughton would have had more than 4 goals( Courturier’s total in 46 games) last season if giving Sean Courturier’s minutes. I suspect Laughton would out score Couturier this season if giving his minutes. Couturier should be moved to wing he is not producing at Center.
I hope this translates into a solid season for him, world juniors should be in his future.