Maple Leafs’ Scott Laughton stresses importance of hitting ground running following Christmas break
“It’s definitely nice winning before you go into the break, the guys are feeling good today and you get a little bit of time away and reset, regroup and come back even stronger,” Scott Laughton said. “We have a big stretch coming up against our division, so it’s important to get off on the right foot.”
When the puck drops tonight in Toronto, the game will be a milestone for Laughton as he will be skating in career game 700, a moment that isn’t lost on a player who had to work his way back to the National Hockey League after being sent to the American Hockey League.
“I think back on the start of my career, playing full years in the NHL then going back to the minors, I wasn’t really sure if I was coming back up, so I was thankful for the opportunity to get back to where I am,” Laughton said. “700 games means a lot.”
Over Laughton’s 700 games, the forward has played for both the Leafs and Philadelphia Flyers, recording 112 goals and 162 assists. Laughton has become an NHL mainstay since 2009-10 after being selected in the first round at the 2012 draft.
“I feel very fortunate and grateful to play every day and come to the rink every day in the best league in the world,” Laughton said. “It’s amazing to do this as a job.”
Leafs head coach Craig Berube spoke at morning skate on the milestone night for the 31-year-old. Berube was coaching the Flyers when Laughton’s career was just getting started in 2014-15.
“He’s had a really good career, really enjoyed being around him and he’s still going,” Berube said. “It just shows the determination and dedication that he has.”
Another player that will be experiencing a milestone tonight is Laughton’s former teammate and captain Claude Giroux, who will be skating in game 1300 tonight. Giroux was the Flyers’ longest tenured captain in franchise history in 2021. Giroux is in the midst of his fourth season with the Ottawa Senators and even at age 37, continues to put together strong seasons. Through 36 games this season, Giroux has recorded seven goals and 18 assists, good for fifth on the Senators in points.
“He’s a great friend and we were teammates for a really long time,” Laughton said of Giroux. “We spent a lot of hours together throughout the eight years. “He’s a really special player who seems like he hasn’t lost a step, he sees the game so well.”
Puckdrop is set for 7 pm EST.