Right before the New Year, the Toronto Maple Leafs have gone on an impressive run. In their last 10 games, they are 6–2–2. Despite this run, the Leafs are still one point out of a Wild Card spot in the arms race that is the Eastern Conference.
As we discussed in our first-ever episode of the 6OI podcast, one contributing factor to the Leafs’ recent play is the bottom-six. The bottom-six has been scoring and playing how you want a bottom-six to play: aggressively, forechecking, and making life miserable for the opposing team. One key player in all of this is Scott Laughton.
In this article, let’s take a look at Scott Laughton’s play and why general manager Brad Treliving needs to prioritize re-signing him.
Defence matters
It goes without saying that winning face-offs is a key component of the game. Whether it’s winning a key offensive zone face-off on the power play or defending a one-goal game in the final minute in your own end, obtaining the puck is advantageous. It’s why the Leafs often have two players on the ice who can win draws at various critical points in a game.
The Leafs lead the NHL in face-off win percentage with 56.5%. Laughton, in particular, through 31 games has a face-off win percentage of 58.4%. This improves to 59.5% in defensive zone face-off win percentage, and further improves to 64.5% while shorthanded.
Head coach Craig Berube trusts Laughton at these critical moments in the game. Laughton is third in time on ice shorthanded for the Leafs’ forwards behind Steven Lorentz and Nicolas Roy, despite playing fewer games. However, when we control for games played, Laughton leads all forwards with 2:30 per game played.
Essentially, Laughton kills more than an entire penalty per game by himself, and often plays against the opponent’s top power play. It makes sense why he’s relied upon. But when looking at more advanced metrics, it shows just how effective Laughton is on the penalty kill.
Table 1. Table showing advanced metrics for key Leafs forwards on the penalty kill relative to each other. Data is adapted from Natural Stat Trick.
| Player | PK TOI | GA | HDGA | SCF | SCA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steven Lorentz | 87.53 | 9 | 6 | 9 | 111 |
| Nicolas Roy | 83.22 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 89 |
| Scott Laughton | 71.50 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 90 |
| Auston Matthews | 55.83 | 9 | 3 | 8 | 61 |
| Calle Jarnkrok | 55.88 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 63 |
There are several advanced stats that can be examined. But notably, Laughton is among the top Leafs’ forward penalty killers in limiting goals against (GA), high-danger goals against (HDGA), scoring changes against (SCA), and leads Leafs forward penalty killers in scoring chances for (SCF). Not listed are shorthanded goals, and Laughton is tied with Lorentz for the team lead with two.
Laughton is the straw that stirs the drink
Even before the Leafs’ recent uptick in play, I wrote about how Laughton has revitalized the fourth line. When the Leafs were last in the conference, last in the power play, and last in about everything imaginable, Laughton was the bright spot.
Beyond the on-ice performance, Laughton has become a leader in the Leafs’ locker room. He has no qualms calling out his team out in post-game interviews, and clearly puts maximum effort in every shift. Leafs fans are seeing why he was an assistant captain for the Flyers. Laughton is quickly becoming a fan favourite, much like how he was in the 11 years with the Philadelphia Flyers.
Laughton brings a combination of skill and size to the Leafs’ bottom-six, which has been a rarity in the Matthews era. He also brings energy to the Leafs’ lineup and seems to be rubbing off on the team.
Matthews has notably been playing some of his best hockey as the captain of the Leafs since Christmas. We’re seeing Matthews taunt fans when he scores, playing more aggressively and urgently, and playing a more chippy game than we’re used to seeing. I wonder if Laughton has had something to do with that.
Treliving needs to re-sign Laughton
The Leafs paid a hefty price to acquire Scott Laughton. The Leafs gave up promising prospect Nikita Grebenkin and a 2027 conditional 1st round pick. With Laughton, the Leafs did receive a 2025 fourth-round pick, a 2027 6th round pick, and 50% salary retention for last year and this year.
Notwithstanding the price, Laughton has found his place in the Leafs’ locker room this season. Laughton is probably the best Leafs’ fourth-line centre in the Matthews era, and it’s not even close. He can win face-offs, he can kill penalties (and score on the penalty kill), and he helps make the bottom-six produce offence. The stats and eye-test confirm this.
It’s quite obvious Laughton enjoys playing in Toronto, his teammates love him, and he is the kind of leader you want to surround your team with. With rumours starting to circulate about the Leafs wanting to extend Laughton, Treliving needs to re-sign him. He brings too many “intangibles,” intangibles that the Leafs have been looking for the better part of a decade.
