ROOKIE LAUGHTON ON THE BUBBLE FOR AN NHL ROSTER SPOT
* From the day he was announced as the Flyers' new general manager, Ron Hextall has emphasized a mantra that the organization will not rush its prospects to the NHL nor will NHL jobs simply be handed to players based on their draft position or pedigree from lower levels of hockey. While most of the outside focus has been on the young defensemen in the system, the same could also be said of 2012 first-round pick Scott Laughton.
Laughton has technically earned an NHL roster spot out of training camp each of the last two seasons. During the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season, he dressed in five games for the Flyers before being returned to the OHL's Oshawa Generals. Last season, after not dressing in the regular season opener, he was re-assigned to Oshawa on Oct. 4.
Laughton was stuck in a tough position this year. He has little to gain from a fourth season in the OHL, where he averaged 1.14 points per game last season while continuing to be one of the junior circuit's more adept defensive centers. At the same time, barring an injury to one of the Flyers' top three NHL-level centers, Laughton's ice time was going to be limited for him if he played in the NHL through his allotted nine-game trial and beyond.
Ideally, Laughton would have been allowed to play in the American Hockey League last season; which was probably the most appropriate level of competition for him at his rate of development. Unfortunately, as a 19-year-old CHL-affiliated player, he was ineligible to play in the AHL, so it had to be either the Flyers or Generals.
In 2012-13, Laughton averaged 1.14 points per game at the OHL level while continuing to be one of the junior circuit's more adept defensive centers. His 2012-13 season in the OHL was interrupted by a pair of suspensions for illegal checks. Before and between the suspensions, Laughton's game developed at a solid clip.
Laughton finished the 2012-13 OHL season with 23 goals and 56 points in 49 games. That represented an appropriate pace of improvement from his Draft year totals of 21 goals and 53 points in 64 games. In the 2013 OHL playoffs, Laughton dialed up his two-way intensity even higher and produced 13 points (seven goals, seven assists) in seven games.
In 2013-14, Laughton was clearly too advanced for the OHL level. Now the backbone of the Generals' offensive attack, he averaged 1.61 points per game. Laughton piled up 40 goals, 47 assists and 87 points in 54 games. Laughton was honored with the captaincy of Team Canada at the World Junior Championships, where he had one point (an assist) in seven games. During the OHL playoffs, Laughton posted four goals and 11 points in nine games.
At the end of the 2013-14 season, Laughton dominated the Annual OHL Coaches' Poll. He was voted the top player in his conference for in faceoffs and penalty killing, finished second in the smartest player, most dangerous in goal area, best shot and best defensive forward categories, and was selected third in the hardest-shot category.
There is little doubt that Laughton can develop into a pro player who plays a defensively sound game and plays with some physicality. As he graduates to the pro level, the main question mark about Laughton is how much offensive upside he has. Impressive junior hockey point totals often do not translate to big scoring numbers in the pros, but there is also no question his offensive game improved as he added muscle and gained confidence.
Laughton looked extremely thin at his first Development Camp with the Flyers. In the two years since that time, he has added some muscle to his 6-foot-1 frame.
At the Flyers' training camp last year, I asked him what was the biggest difference he noticed between his five-game NHL stint with the Flyers and the OHL. Many young players point to the size, strength and skill of their NHL opponents. Instead, what he noticed from direct on-ice experience with the Flyers had to do with adjusting his pacing and decision-making on the ice.
"The biggest difference I noticed was definitely time with the puck," Laughton said.
At the time he was drafted by the Flyers in 2012, an NHL scout from another club told me that he saw Laughton's NHL upside as being similar to former Selke Trophy winner John Madden. The Flyers' people set the bar even a bit higher, comparing him to former Flyers captain Mike Richards.
Apart from his skills and hockey smarts, Laughton carries himself like a player who "gets it" in terms of his preparation and learning curve. He isn't loud or boisterous -- not a a colorful quote -- but the self-confidence he possesses is very obvious. He looks you in the eye when he talks and he does not seem to get overwhelmed by anything.
Laughton has pretty much exclusively played center during his midget and junior hockey careers. If he is to make the Flyers at some point next season -- whether it is out of camp or at some point later in the season -- he might be asked to play some wing. The Flyers are already inundated with natural centers.
If Laughton starts the 2014-15 season with the Phantoms, he is likely to play a larger offensive role for Terry Murray's team than he would if he makes the Flyers. However, if he is needed on the big club in a fourth line and penalty killing role, he is capable of making that adjustment.
The Flyers have to decide both what it best for their team and also for the player's long-term development. With the NHL roster as presently constituted, Laughton seems better served with some AHL seasoning regardless of his future role in the NHL. He could ultimately evolve into a top-six NHL forward but top-nine is a more prudent projection.
REMEMBERING ASHBEE
The late Barry Ashbee was born on this date in 1939. The heart-and-soul defenseman and assistant coach passed away at age 37 in 1977 after a bout with leukemia. Ashbee is a member of the Flyers Hall of Fame and had his number 4 retired by the team.
Back in 2007, I wrote a lengthy
Heroes of the Past profile on Ashbee for the Flyers' official Web site. The following is an excerpt from my article:
Barry Ashbee's retired number hangs in the rafters because he was the epitome of the type of hockey player that every team needs to win. He wasn't the most talented guy around but no one was more dedicated to winning or persevered more tenaciously.
Ashbee is enshrined in the Flyers Hall of Fame not so much to venerate his career but to honor his spirit. By celebrating Barry Ashbee, the Flyers also pay tribute to all the players who came before and after him, men who toiled and sacrificed just for a chance to play. Just as importantly, Ashbee possessed extraordinary character and dignity.
MONDAY QUICK HITS
* Former Flyers goaltender and current New York Islanders general manager Garth Snow celebrates his 45th birthday day. The Wrentham, MA native was born on July 28, 1969.
* Former Flyers goaltender Michael Leighton has terminated his 2014-15 KHL contract with HC Sochi, citing an illness. Former center Vyacheslav Butsayev, who is now Sochi's head coach, issued a statement yesterday wishing Leighton well and saying he has no hard feelings about the goalie's decision because he acted honestly.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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