The Los Angeles Kings and general manager Ken Holland addressed the depth need in the middle of the lineup on Day 1 of unrestricted free agency this past week by signing veteran centers Erik Haula and Scott Laughton to multi-year contracts.
There was a real opportunity for Laughton to test the waters in free agency and to probably get more money by signing with another team this summer. But his ability to find a long-term home and make an impact on and off the ice in the locker room for the Kings this upcoming season made a lot of sense for the veteran center this offseason.
Laughton was a seamless fit in the Kings' locker room down the stretch this past regular season. Bringing him back for another few seasons seemed like a no-brainer for Holland and the Kings' front office in free agency this summer.
He said the "guys were amazing with me" and that the "staff" made him feel at home.
"The Kings were for sure at the top of the list after the year ended, I thought the fit was seamless. The guys were amazing with me, the staff, everyone that works around it. I thought the moves that Kenny made definitely strengthened our team. You lose Kopi, you’re not going to fill that role, leadership, play, everything that comes into it, but I thought Kenny did a really good job and I wanted to be part of it."Scott Laughton on the Kings
He brought proven experience and two-way versatility that helped the Kings get more stability and better matchups in the defensive zone this past regular season and after the trade deadline. Laughton brings a certain grit and physicality to his game, especially in the defensive zone, that fits with the identity that Holland and the Kings want to build in the Pacific Division.
It was a priority for Laughton to find a place where he could call home long-term, which is why it was a bonus to him and his family to sign a three-year contract deal with the Kings this offseason.
"Even when I was back in Philly, I signed a five-year deal and I think security has always been important to me. I think my family absolutely loved it when we went down there and it was a short period of time, but after playing in the same place for 12 years and getting traded twice in the same calendar year, it’s a pretty big whirlwind for you, especially with a young son. Definitely getting a little bit of term was on my mind and just trying to fit in the best I could in the group that’s already there."Laughton
From everything we've heard from Laughton in this past few months since he was traded to Los Angeles from Philly at the trade deadline is that he's loved his time in Southern California. He's talked about how great the locker room was to him and how much he's loved his time in Los Angeles so far since the spring.
"First and foremost, with how much both me, my wife and my son absolutely loved coming here, everyone from the front office taking care of your wife, taking care of your family away from the rink, I think that’s a huge factor."Laughton
The moves that Holland and the Kings front office made to strengthen the roster lineup only helped to reinforce that signing with the Kings was the right move for Laughton going into this upcoming season. The Kings are working to improve the roster and become a more legitimate contender in the Western Conference under Laviolette and staff.
It wasn't just the long-term contract that the Kings offered that brought Laughton back to Los Angeles for several more years with the Kings. He also fits with the locker room and identity that the Kings are building within the organization this offseason, and he can see a future where LA is contending.
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