The Toronto Maple Leafs will start the season with a gap in their forward lineup as Scott Laughton is sidelined week-to-week with a lower-body injury. The team announced the injury on Friday.
Laughton appeared to sustain the injury during Thursday night’s 3-1 preseason loss to the Detroit Red Wings. He played 11:15 against the Red Wings, the second-least amount of time among Toronto’s players. Midway through the second period, Laughton blocked a shot with his left foot and appeared to be in some pain, but he remained on the bench and took a couple more shifts in the frame. He played five shifts in the third period.
The loss of Laughton impacts the team's bottom-six forward group and may disrupt line chemistry. Before the injury, Laughton was centering a promising fourth line between rookie Easton Cowan and veteran Steven Lorentz. This setback may complicate the team's final decision on Cowan, who the organization hoped to pair with the veteran center.
David Kampf, who had been wearing a non-contact jersey for much of training camp, participated in Friday's practice in a regular jersey, signaling his readiness for a full return. It appears that Kampf will benefit from Laughton's absence.
Laughton, who is 31 years old, was acquired by the Maple Leafs from the Philadelphia Flyers at last year's trade deadline. In return, the Flyers received prospect Nikita Grebenkin and a 2027 first-round pick. After arriving in Toronto, Laughton scored two goals and four points in 20 games. He also had two assists in 13 playoff games with the Maple Leafs.
Laughton has 108 goals and 161 assists for 269 points in 681 career regular-season games with the Flyers and Leafs. The Oshawa Generals product was picked 20th overall by the Flyers in the 2012 NHL Draft.
Laughton is entering his first full season with the Maple Leafs. He said recently, “I wasn't good enough last year. That's the bottom line... It was hard. The hardest part was, for sure, leaving Philly. You grew up there, and we had our kid there, and everything like that. You build something there, and I think you're so ingrained in being a Flyer. So, to come here was a different feeling”.
The Leafs have one remaining exhibition game Saturday in Detroit before opening the regular season at home against the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday.
