TORONTO — Scott Laughton isn’t ready to call the upcoming year a make-or-break season. Heading into the final year of his entry-level contract, Laughton is focused on earning a regular spot on the Flyers' roster.
Despite making the Flyers' lineup out of training camp last season, struggles in his own end saw head coach Dave Hakstol make Laughton a healthy scratch, limiting the 22-year-old to 71 games.
“A lot of people have a lot to say about it, but I'm going to focus on what I can do, and yeah it's a contract year, but I just want to play games, help the team win and go from there,” Laughton told CSNPhilly.com this week. “I'm not focused on a contract or anything like that. I'm focused on making the team and being with those guys again.”
Laughton isn’t interested in talking about the injury he suffered after crashing into the end boards during Game 4 of the Flyers' playoff series against the Washington Capitals last April. Following an offseason, which included plenty of golf, a cruise and a family trip to St. Barts, he says he’s healthy and ready for the upcoming season.
“Everything's good, I mean, [the injury is] kind of in the past now and [I'm] looking forward to this year," Laughton said. "Obviously not the way you want to go out, it was tough, but all good now and really healthy. I've watched it. Just a weird play where I put myself off balance and stuff like that happens. At the end of the day, it's just a tough play.”
With training camp set to open later this month, Laughton knows there are more tough days ahead.
In addition to being a healthy scratch last season, the 6-foot-1, 177-pounder lost his spot as the club’s third-line center to former Phantoms teammate Nick Cousins. The pair will likely battle for the spot again at camp.
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“I mean nothing's really come easy in the past couple years so I don't look for it to be again this year,” Laughton said. “It's going to be tough, lots of competition and I'm excited for what's to come and to be a good NHL player for [the Flyers].”
Being bumped from center, the Oakville, Ontario, native was forced to adjust to a new position on the left wing.
Laughton, who put up seven goals and 14 assists while averaging 10:26 a night in ice time, admitted it wasn’t an easy transition.
“I haven't played that [position] before, but it happens,” he said. “You're going to move positions and things like that so I got used to it later on and thought I played my best hockey on left wing, so we'll see.”
Uncertain of where the Flyers' brass will have him play at camp, Laughton, selected 20th overall by the club at the 2012 NHL draft, is prepared to play the wing again this season, if necessary.
“We'll see at camp where they spot me in, but I'm comfortable in both positions," Laughton said. "I'm excited and ready to get down there."
MacDonald ready to battle
Laughton isn’t the only Flyer in for a battle at this year’s camp. Defenseman Andrew MacDonald knows a roster spot on the blue line isn’t guaranteed.
The 30-year-old fell victim to his cap hit ($5 million), cleared waivers and was sent to the American Hockey League’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms in October, despite the Flyers' receiving just $950,000 in cap relief.
“That was obviously pretty disappointing, but that being said, it's a new year, finished the year strong last year and I'm just looking to build off of that,” MacDonald said this week. “Obviously it's the way things worked out, tried to have a good attitude about it and tried to take advantage of the opportunity whenever I did get a chance to come back up.”
After 43 games with the Phantoms, for whom the 6-foot-1, 204-pound blueliner scored five goals and 31 assists, MacDonald returned to the Flyers' lineup for the final three months of the regular season.
The Nova Scotia native appeared in 28 regular-season games with the Flyers, registering eight points while averaging just over 20 minutes a night in ice time.
With youngsters such as Ivan Provorov knocking on the door, hoping for a shot with the Flyers this season, MacDonald’s spot on the Flyers' blue line could once again be in jeopardy.
“There's obviously some talented young D-men in the system,” MacDonald said. “It's definitely a good look for them, especially with some of guys going to be away at the World Cup, it will give them a good chance to show what they're made of.”