Scott Laughton, C
Going into the first day of the free agent window this past Wednesday, there were doubts regarding whether the Kings would be able to get a deal done to re-sign veteran two-way center Scott Laughton.
The biggest re-signing of Day 1 of the free agent window this past week for Holland and the Kings was Laughton. The Kings signed Laughton to a three-year contract deal worth around $3.5 million in average annual value.
The Kings traded for Laughton at the deadline from the Toronto Maple Leafs this past regular season, and he made an immediate impact on both sides of the ice in 21 games played for Los Angeles down the stretch.
Like Haula, Laughton gives the Kings a proven and experienced two-way center who can make an impact in all three zones while also playing valuable minutes on special teams on the penalty kill. Laughton can also be a beast in clutch time in the faceoff circle for the Kings. Down the stretch this past regular season, Laughton won nearly 60 percent of his faceoff attempts for the Kings.
Retaining Laughton gives Laviolette and staff another proven and trusted veteran who is capable of handling difficult defensive assignments while still contributing on the offensive end of the ice. Considering how quickly Laughton fit into the roster lineup after arriving at the trade deadline this past regular season, keeping him in LA on a pretty affordable three-year contract deal is one of the best moves Holland made so far this offseason.
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