Scott Laughton is quietly improving for the Flyers

Based on almost all of the metrics you can find, Scott Laughton is not having a very good season for the Flyers. The goals have been pretty hard to come by (seven in 54 games), he hasn\'t graded out particularly well defensively (second-worst <a href=\"https://www.naturalstattrick.com/playerteams.php?fromseason=20232024&thruseason=20232024&stype=2&sit=ev&score=all&stdoi=oi&rate=y&team=PHI&pos=F&loc=B&toi=0&gpfilt=none&fd=&td=&tgp=410&lines=single&draftteam=ALL\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https://www.naturalstattrick.com/playerteams.php?fromseason=20232024&thruseason=20232024&stype=2&sit=ev&score=all&stdoi=oi&rate=y&team=PHI&pos=F&loc=B&toi=0&gpfilt=none&fd=&td=&tgp=410&lines=single&draftteam=ALL\">on-ice expected goals against per 60 at even strength on the team at 2.94), and he has been undisciplined (first in minor penalties taken on the team with 18). But, fairly quietly, he has had a fantastic month of February for the team. So much so that he has arguably been one of the best players for the Flyers in that stretch.

Laughton\'s offensive contributions

Since February 1 at even strength among 403 forwards (per 60 minutes), Laughton ranks 77th in goals, 60th in primary assists, and 76th in points, smushed between star forwards Jason Robertson and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Shooting at 25 percent, it is much better than his season total of a lowly 6.0 percent.

And that offense wasn\'t irrelevant, either. Laughton had the opening goal in the Flyers\' 3-2 win over the Seattle Kraken and the game-winner in a 5-3 win over the Arizona Coyotes — that puts him at 22nd in goals per 60 at even strength in tie games among forwards. He\'s had a clutch gene recently, and the Flyers have been better off for it.

Admittedly, his expected on-ice goals for per 60 of 1.72 is pretty dreadful, but he has also gotten fourth-line ice time frequently. He\'s succeeding despite playing on a defensive-minded line, outscoring those \"expected\" woes with an actual on-ice goals for per 60 of 4.41, which is second on the team. He\'s making up for the lack of chances on his lines almost by himself, and he deserves some praise for this.

Now, Laughton\'s numbers won\'t be sustainable whatsoever if he stays on the bottom line, but if he\'s bumped up a bit then he might find his game in the long-term. The Flyers are such a good defensive team that all they really need from him is his offense. If he can find it consistently, he\'s not only worthy of having in the lineup (it could be argued that he wasn\'t before), but now he\'s playing up to his potential first-round trade grade . But we\'ll get to that later.

Laughton\'s improvements defensively

Before February 1, Laughton had an on-ice goals against per 60 minutes of 3.02 at even strength, ranking in the 28th percentile among all forwards. In terms of his actual rate, he was giving up 3.29 goals per 60 minutes, a lesser 23rd percentile. For someone who wasn\'t producing offensively, either, there really wasn\'t much to like about him at all before this stretch. Now, though, he\'s taken a step up in that regard.

In February, Laughton has an expected goals against per 60 of 1.74 with an actual goals against per 60 of 1.47 at even strength. These rank in the 84th and the 65th percentile of forwards respectively. He hasn\'t just improved defensively (albeit in a small sample size) but has done so massively.

So, Laughton is in the 81st and 84th percentiles for points and expected goals against per 60 in February, making him one of the better players on the Flyers even though he\'s not playing with premier linemates such as Travis Konecny, Joel Farabee, or Owen Tippett frequently. What does that mean for a potential trade?

Laughton\'s potential for a trade

Instead of being a struggling bottom-six forward, Laughton has become a genuinely good one. Now, again, that might not be sustainable. But he\'s at least showing that he\'s still capable of producing both offensively and shutting things down defensively at the same time. Many players can do just one, but doing the other is indicative of a high-end depth player.

At a $3 million cap hit for the next three seasons, Laughton could be an attractive add. He plays a lot on the penalty kill and has had incredible success there (89th percentile in goal share among forwards that have been on the ice for a goal), is fairly physical (87th in the NHL in hits out of 854 total players), and is a good leader on and off the ice .

Most contenders could make his contract work, especially if they send a cap dump the other way or send a player down to the AHL. He plays the style of hockey that contenders would want on their team, able to play rough and on the penalty kill but also able to score when needed. He can move up and down the lineup, as shown by playing on the second line at times for the Flyers last season. With term on his deal, he can be a good add for another team — that\'ll come at a cost.

With how he\'s played recently, there\'s nothing ridiculous about asking for a first-round pick for his services. But since he\'s not set to become a free agent until after the 2025-26 season, the Flyers don\'t have to make a move right away. If they get a good offer, then they should consider parting ways. He\'s done a good job at recouping his trade value, but for now, he\'s an asset to the Flyers for their playoff push.

Talking Points