Finding the right linemates for Scott Laughton

One game into Scott Laughton’s time in Toronto, it seems unrealistic to believe that everything will be all figured out regarding deployment. Craig Berube started from a pretty logical place and throwing Laughton right into the third line centre spot that he’s expected to play in was a no-brainer. Given the desire for Laughton to be an answer for both secondary scoring and defensive zone responsibility, starting him with Max Domi and Bobby McMann was putting him in a spot for potential success on the secondary scoring side of things, but less so on the defensive side of the puck, not that McMann isn’t somewhat capable in that regard.

Odds are this line won’t stick and was somewhat born out of the necessity of figuring out where Max Domi belongs as well.

Laughton’s first night as a Leaf featuring two goals against as well as a sub-30% Corsi differential at 5v5 is not inspiring, but not something you can fairly gauge Laughton or his potential fit with certain players on. It’s just some information gathering and if anything, it shows that the Leafs are going to have some growing pains in the next month.

Laughton’s time this season with the Philadelphia Flyers has been spent somewhat frequently on the wing and playing with Ryan Poehling and Garnet Hathaway in a heavy checking capacity. He’s also seen time in scoring roles playing with Travis Konecny, Bobby Brink, and Matvei Michkov as well, but primarily the checking role. That’s also where Laughton’s best on ice shot and goal differentials came from.

Given the Leafs being a better and deeper team it seems like Toronto can find a way to bridge what was working for Laughton in Philadelphia but with better results in Toronto and part of that likely involves not putting Laughton with Domi.

Finding a Hathaway comparable on the Leafs is a bit difficult. The potential fit might be Steven Lorentz, who really is the closest comparable the Leafs have for either Poehling or Hathaway. Moving Lorentz up in the lineup at a time when the Leafs roster is trying to get deeper might seem strange and certainly hinders attempts at secondary offence. That also creates further questions about where Domi and McMann play. In contrast, it does seem like Lorentz and Laughton is two-thirds of a line that very much looks like it is ready for playoff hockey. Perhaps McMann is the right option to join them as he brings some speed and versatility that could get more out of Laughton offensively as well.

McMann really seems like a good player to try to fit with Laughton, but if that is not the case the Leafs have a pair of veterans that also seem like they are worth trying with the new centre.

Calle Jarnkrok having recently returned is also looking for his fit in the Leafs lineup. He has long been the Leafs’ Swiss Army Knife player but a long term injury coupled with reality of his age mean that he’s not the player he was a couple of seasons ago and there were already question marks heading into the playoffs. Nevertheless, Jarnkrok offers a two-way player option that fits with what the Leafs are looking to get out of their third line and going jack-of-all-trades, masters of none as their team might at least equate to a unit you can trust in all situations.

Max Pacioretty likely also deserves some consideration as a potential linemate for Laughton when he is ready to return. Pacioretty is unlikely to get much time with Laughton before the playoffs, but Pacioretty is another player with offensive potential to fit into the role and give Pacioretty’s willingness to hit everyone on any given shift this season, he might be a style fit for Laughton in that regard as well if there is a desire to mirror what was working in Philadelphia. (Again, you certainly aren’t looking to recreate the 2024-25 Flyers, but certain players thrive with players of a certain archetype and maybe Laughton needs some heavy hitters.)

There also needs to be at least some lip service given to the idea of spreading Matthews, Marner, and Nylander throughout the lineup, but starting there in week one might not be fair to Laughton as he’s still learning the ropes in Toronto.

Putting Marner with Laughton would be interesting as Marner’s defensive acumen joining a line the Leafs want to do more in all situations could be interesting. At the same time putting Nylander as a puck carrier with Laughton brings a strong new skill set that he hasn’t been able to work with before and Nylander has been able to jump start almost every Leafs’ forward offensively, so that’s a potential fit too.

It will come down to Berube’s priorities for the Laughton line, but right now McMann looks like the option to continue exploring while Domi doesn’t look like a fit. In the short term, Jarnkrok looks like the best option to explore, and I guess you could just as easily suggest Pontus Holmberg as well, assuming he isn’t needed in the 2LW or 4C role.

The Leafs have one last road game this week in Utah and that is followed by a much needed four-game homestand and stretch of practices that will at least better determine what the Leafs need from Laughton and need to do for him. For now, leaning on safe players seems like the best course of action as linemates and given that safe hockey from the third line is probably the goal, that could be the long term fit as well.

Data from Natural Stat Trick