Scott Laughton Injury Puts Maple Leafs Forward Depth to the Test
The Toronto Maple Leafs received unwelcome news Friday as veteran forward Scott Laughton was officially ruled week-to-week with a lower-body injury. The timing couldn’t be worse for a team already fine-tuning its roster ahead of Wednesday’s season opener against Montreal.
What Scott Laughton’s Absence Means for Toronto’s Lines
Laughton’s injury creates an immediate ripple effect through Toronto’s forward corps. The 30-year-old winger was expected to slot into a middle-six role after joining the team via trade from Philadelphia at last season’s deadline. His absence opens up legitimate questions about the Leafs’ forward depth heading into the campaign.
The Oakville native managed just two goals and four points in 20 regular-season games with Toronto after the trade, numbers that reflected his struggles adjusting to a new system. Laughton himself acknowledged those difficulties recently, telling reporters he “wasn’t good enough last year” and posted a career-worst minus-18 rating in 2024-25.
Roster Implications and Opportunity Knocks
With Scott Laughton sidelined, rookie Easton Cowen appears positioned to secure a spot on the opening-night roster. The young forward was already in the mix for a roster position, but Laughton’s injury essentially locks him in, barring any surprises in the final preseason games.
The veteran David Kampf will probably continue to play in the bottom six, but he stands to gain the most from more ice time. The Swiss center is an obvious choice to take up some of Laughton’s playing time due to his defensive dependability, especially on the penalty kill, where his expertise is helpful.
The Bigger Picture for Toronto’s Season
This injury brings to light an alarming trend in the Maple Leafs’ forward depth. Despite the team’s top-tier talent, injuries to complementary players like Laughton highlight possible organizational depth issues.
The former Flyers forward contributed 269 points over his career and 681 NHL games of expertise. He was versatile in a variety of forward positions and special teams units, which is more significant. It will be Toronto’s first major test of the season to find sufficient substitute production from inside possibilities.
The “week-to-week” designation suggests Scott Laughton could miss anywhere from two to six weeks, though the team hasn’t provided specific details about the nature of his lower-body injury. Given the vague timeline, it’s reasonable to expect he’ll miss at least the season’s first handful of games.
