Overview

• Acquired from Philadelphia for a first-round pick and prospect Nikita Grebenkin, Laughton arrives this season on a retained deal that reduces Toronto’s cap charge to $1.5 million.
• After 2 goals and 4 points in 20 regular-season games, he delivered playoff value through checking, penalty killing and faceoffs, taking 126 draws with a 60.36% win rate at even strength.
• Laughton acknowledged his struggles, telling reporters he "wasn’t good enough last year" and describing the transition from the Flyers as difficult.
• Berube praised Laughton’s impact once he settled into his role, citing his gamesmanship, checking-line work and penalty killing as positives.
• He is pencilled in as Toronto’s fourth-line center at camp, with Steven Lortentz on his left and competition ongoing for the right-wing spot, and he says he is not focused on his pending free agency.