3 Reasons Scott Laughton Is Huge for the Maple Leafs
You know, sometimes the story of a team isn’t about the flashy goals or the highlight-reel plays. Sometimes it’s the guy in the trenches, doing the little things right, night after night. For the Toronto Maple Leafs this season, that guy has been Scott Laughton. And, he’s proving he’s worth far more than the stats alone suggest.
Reason One: Laughton’s Energy Sparks a Team
First, Laughton brings effort. Pure, raw, never take a shift off kind of energy. Laughton brings it every night, and it’s contagious. He’s winning battles along the boards, crashing the net, and digging pucks out of corners. That’s the kind of work that doesn’t always show up on the scoresheet but makes life easier for everyone else. You can see it on the ice: teammates lift their intensity when he’s around. It’s like a little jolt of “okay, let’s go” every time he jumps on the puck. For a team that’s had some cold nights offensively, that spark matters—a lot.
Reason Two: Laughton Is a Bottom-Six Glue Guy
Second, versatility. Laughton slots into that third-line role and holds things together. He’s not the guy expected to put 20 shots at the opposition’s goalie per game. However, he’s the guy who keeps the line moving, who reads plays, who makes sure the forwards around him can do their thing without chaos. He’s a stabilizer.
In a league where one bad shift can cost you a game, having a guy who keeps the unit steady, who’s smart without the puck, and who can chip in offensively when the chance appears is a gift. And Laughton’s starting to look like the kind of player you can rely on for that every night.
Reason Three: Laughton’s Locker Room Presence Is a Valuable Intangible
Third, he brings the intangibles. Laughton’s energy doesn’t stop at the bench. He’s a presence in the locker room, a guy who holds himself accountable and lifts others around him. You don’t always see it on the broadcast, but it matters.
Younger players notice it, vets notice it, and coaches see it. In a team that’s juggling injuries, inconsistency, and high expectations, having someone who keeps the culture steady is priceless. It’s the kind of stuff that helps a team survive tough stretches and still compete in every game.
The Bottom Line for Laughton and the Maple Leafs
Scott Laughton might not be the headline every night, but he’s quietly proving his worth. There are three reasons, three ways, this one player is so essential: energy, reliability, and presence. And if the Maple Leafs can keep getting this out of him, it might just make the difference between a team that scrapes by and a team that can really make a run.