The Philadelphia Flyers Are Finally All-In On The Rebuild, Trade Scott Laughton To Toronto
Len Redkoles. Getty Images.First and foremost, just a quick thank you to Scott Laughton. He was drafted to the Philadelphia Flyers during a really weird time in the team's history. They had just moved on from Mike Richards and Jeff Carter. The team's identity was gone, but they were still expected to contend every year. Laughton was originally thought of as potentially being the next Mike Richards for this team. A gritty guy who plays a hard 200' game, but can also put the puck in the back of the net. He was a 40-goal scorer in the NHL. So he immediately came to Philly with some ridiculously high expectations of replacing the last captain to bring this team to a Stanley Cup Final.
He never fully lived up to those expectations, mainly because they were a bit unfair and unrealistic. But what Scott Laughton did every time he put on that Flyers sweater was give it every thing he had. He could play on the top line, he could play on the 4th line. He was a Swiss Army Knife who would play his dick off no matter what role was given to him.
Most importantly, however, Scott Laughton was the main leader in that locker room. Sure, Sean Couturier wears the 'C' on his sweater. But Coots is more of a quiet, reserved leader. By all accounts, it seemed like Scott Laughton was the heart of that locker room. Keeping the mood light in there even when the teams have been dog shit. Cracking jokes, making sure everyone feels welcomed on that team. Scott Laughton was a massive part of this Flyers' core, and that's what has made it so difficult for Danny Briere to pull the trigger on trading him.
But the time finally came for the Flyers to go all-in on a rebuild. Honestly, that time was like at least 2 seasons ago. But the organization finally came to terms with it this year. They traded Joel Farabee and Morgan Frost to the Flames earlier this year. Earlier today, they traded Andrei Kuzmenko (who they got in the Farabee/Frost deal) to the LA Kings for a 2027 3rd Rd pick.
And now Scott Laughton is heading back towards his home in Oakville, Ontario to play for the Leafs. It's a great spot for him to end up. He's close to home, and has a chance to go on a run with this Leafs team who could potentially end one of the longest Cup draughts in the NHL. At the end of the day, the Leafs are still the Leafs so I doubt that happens. But if Toronto is ever going to win a Cup in my lifetime, that pill will be much easier for me to swallow if Scott Laughton plays a big role in getting the job done.
As for the return, the Flyers get a conditional 1st round pick and a Russian prospect. It's hilarious because I don't think the Flyers will ever make another trade where they don't acquire a Russian again. They need as many people in that locker room who can communicate with Matvei Michkov as possible. Kuzmenko came over in the Calgary deal, but once they traded him to the Kings earlier today that meant they needed to get another Russian in the locker room. So in comes Nikita Grebenkin. I don't know much about him, but obviously the 1st round pick was the big move here for the Flyers. They just keep loading up on assets, and eventually they'll be able to take a big swing at someone once offer sheet season rolls around.