Skip to content
Flyers
Link copied to clipboard

Flyers rookie Laughton would like to stick around for a while

AFTER A crash-course introduction to the big leagues this week, Flyers rookie Scott Laughton says that his first 4 days in training camp have him more convinced than ever that he can play in the NHL.

Flyers' Scott Laughton skates during training camp at the Flyers Skate
Zone in Voorhees , NJ on Sunday, January 13, 2013. (Yong Kim/Staff Photographer)
Flyers' Scott Laughton skates during training camp at the Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees , NJ on Sunday, January 13, 2013. (Yong Kim/Staff Photographer)Read more

AFTER A crash-course introduction to the big leagues this week, Flyers rookie Scott Laughton says that his first 4 days in training camp have him more convinced than ever that he can play in the NHL.

Laughton, 18, will find out Friday afternoon whether or not he's sticking with the Flyers, as 23-man rosters are to be submitted by 3 o'clock.

All signs point to Laughton earning a five-game tryout with the Flyers, before they must decide whether to send him back to junior hockey, especially with the expected absence of Danny Briere. Laughton was one of only 17 draft picks currently playing junior hockey to be plucked by an NHL team for these abbreviated training camps.

"I can't wait to see him in his first game," said Scott Hartnell, who has Laughton staying at his apartment this week to help acclimate him to Philadelphia. "He reminds me of when I was 18. You don't really know what's going on; it's a whirlwind how it all happens.

"I think, from what I heard, the best is yet to come. It looks like he's strong, battles on sticks and pucks. He's a great skater, he's really shifty around the net. I think he looks great."

When Laughton's name was announced during Thursday night's free practice at Wells Fargo Center in front of 15,202 excited fans, he did not receive a large ovation. That's because fans aren't familiar with Laughton. He has even taken his teammates by surprise.

"He's impressive, the way he plays and he plays hard," Claude Giroux said. "If he can stay up [here], it'd be good for us for sure."

Laughton seems to have all of the defensive awareness of Sean Couturier, who made the same jump from junior to pro last year as a first-rounder, but has an added edge to his game. He can play wing and center, score and play defense, fight and fly on the ice.

"I think he's a smart player," Couturier said. "He seems to understand the defensive side of the game, where you've got to pay attention to all the details. I think he seems to understand that and that's a big thing that will help him."

Coach Peter Laviolette, though, said it's unfair to compare Laughton to Couturier. About the only thing they have in common is their youth, high draft status and country of origin.

"Sean got to play in a bunch of exhibition games," Laviolette explained. "Everything we threw at him, he never disappointed us. We put him in all situations, power play and penalty kill, late-game situations. Scott's never been given the opportunity to play in a game for us. The game is the hardest part. From what I've seen, he's had a good camp. He certainly doesn't look out of place."

The common-sense thinking with Laughton is that a five-game tryout with the Flyers would be no-harm, no-foul. If Laughton plays well enough to stay, the Flyers will have a tougher decision to make. If Laughton flounders in the first five, he will head back to OHL Oshawa with an invaluable taste of the NHL and what it takes.

If Laughton dresses for a sixth game with the Flyers, he will burn a year on his entry-level contract. He is not permitted to be assigned to the AHL because of age restrictions on draft picks.

Still, Laviolette didn't seem to agree with the "free-look" theory on Laughton.

"I think it's always a little bit of a risk," Laviolette said. "I think you always want to make sure you're doing the right things when you're dealing with your young players."

Laviolette said he would have discussions with general manager Paul Holmgren before deciding on a final roster. Laughton acknowledged his nerves were high at the beginning of the week, but they've since calmed with each additional day. Even with all of the anticipation, Laughton said he would not be restless when his head hit the pillow in Hartnell's apartment on Thursday night.

"I think I'll be all right," Laughton said. "I mean, I can't control what they decide. I just try and control what I can do. I think I've done everything I can over this week and I'll do it again tomorrow."

Quotable

"It's basically a switch on and off. We know what to expect, we know how they are going to play, we know it's going to be an intense game. We've just got to make sure we get our sleep and are ready to go."

- Claude Giroux, on the Flyers' rapid change from "training camp to game mode'' for Pittsburgh in the next 24 hours.

Slap shots

The Flyers let new captain Claude Giroux lead them onto the ice, but the rest of the team purposely waited back as Giroux awkwardly skated a few circles alone in front of the roar from fans. "You know, new captain, let him have his fame out there," Sean Couturier said with a smile . . . Defenseman Andreas Lilja cleared waivers on Thursday and was assigned to the Phantoms, along with goaltender Brian Boucher . . . New Pennsylvania legislation allows for "50/50"-type lottery games, which the Flyers are taking advantage of this season at Wells Fargo Center. Fifty percent goes to the fan with the winning ticket, 50 percent goes to Flyers Charities.