Philadelphia Flyers

Scott Laughton signs five-year contract extension with Flyers

Published

3 years ago

April 12, 2021

Ryan Gilbert

Scott Laughton got his wish.

The Philadelphia Flyers have signed Scott Laughton to a lengthy contract extension.

Scott Laughton locked up by Flyers

DONE DEAL: @Laughts21 is staying in Philly! https://t.co/1WfLGNTyaM

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) April 12, 2021

It’s a five-year, $15 million contract for Laughton. That’s a slight pay bump from the $2.3 million cap hit on his current contract. The five years is a year or two longer than expected, though. Laughton is only 26 years old, however, so he should be able to contribute at a middle-six then bottom-six level throughout the contract.

Unlike the Flyers this season, Laughton is trending in the right direction. He has gotten better in every season since 2018.

Laughton has spent his entire career with the Flyers since being drafted with the 20th overall pick in the 2012 NHL Draft. Laughton’s career in Philadelphia didn’t start out great, though. He was sent to the minors for the 2016-17 season to work on his game, and did he ever work. Laughton refined his game and carved out a role for himself as the Flyers fourth-line center for the 2017-18 season. He has been an integral part of the Flyers’ bottom-nine ever since.

This season, Laughton has 17 points (seven goals, 10 assists) in 38 games. In a shortened season last year due to an injury (and COVID), Laughton had 27 points (13 goals, 14 assists) in 49 games. It was the best year of his career and he saw time on the second line with Kevin Hayes and Travis Konecny.

Laughton plays a style that Flyers fans love. He is a two-way forward that plays a 200-foot game and isn’t afraid to get into it physically. He’ll line up at wing or center, depending on what the team needs at the time, and will slide up and down the lineup with ease. Laughton is an ideal role player and glue guy for the Flyers.

Did Fletcher make the right decision with Scott Laughton?

There were teams interested in Laughton all the way up until the deadline, but the Flyers wanted to keep him in Philly. Similar players got traded for a first-round pick (Nick Foligno, and second- and third-round picks (Mattias Janmark) over the past 24 hours.

If Mattias Janmark (and a 5th) can get a 2nd rounder and 3rd rounder, you have to think the Flyers are holding out for a first-round pick for Laughton. https://t.co/1HPALqpBu2

— Ryan Gilbert (@RGilbertSOP) April 12, 2021