29-year-old center might be a fit for Buffalo under Ruff.
The Buffalo Sabres face a season where accountability will be stressed under head coach Lindy Ruff and areas of need will have to be addressed by GM Kevyn Adams for the club to snap their 13-year playoff drought. Over the next few weeks, we will take a look at players who could be potential trade targets this summer in advance of a year that has to be considered playoffs or bust.
Scott Laughton – Center (Philadelphia Flyers)
Contract status – signed through 2025-26 at $3 million AAV
The Sabres are well-positioned to make a major roster upgrade going into next season, with nearly $23 million in cap space, one of the NHL’s best prospect pools, and all their draft picks. Last summer, Adams was not willing to deal his first-round pick or youngsters such as Matthew Savoie, Jiri Kulich, or Isak Rosen, but now the thought is that the patient developmental approach will be abandoned and that Adams is looking to potentially make a move for a difference-maker who can play in the top six or a center that can provide a different aspect behind Tage Thompson and Dylan Cozens.
Laughton has been with the Flyers since being selected 20th overall in 2012. The 29-year-old has scored in double figures six times in his 10-year NHL career but is seen primarily as a bottom-six center who plays with a physical edge.
Philadelphia signed Laughton to a five-year, $15 million extension in 2021, but with them in the midst of a rebuild, speculation began to pop up prior to March’s trade deadline that GM Danny Briere was considering dealing him for a younger forward or a first-round pick. In fact, the Sabres were rumored to be interested in the Oakville, ON native until their realistic chances of making the playoffs began to fade.
The Flyers and Sabres could be a good fit for a potential summer deal since Buffalo has a stockpile of futures and low-salaried players, and their need for bottom-six veterans with sandpaper to play in Ruff’s system. Although Laughton’s $3 million salary is considered to be a bit pricy, the Sabres have the cap space to deal with it and Briere might be interested in a variety of options that Adams is prepared to offer.
