Maple Leafs Coach Craig Berube Speaks His Mind About Newcomer Scott Laughton
Photo credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images
Scott Laughton has played very well for the Maple Leafs during the first round series against the Senators and head coach Craig Berube had plenty to say about why that is ahead of an all-important Game 4.
When the Maple Leafs pulled the trigger on a deal for veteran pivot Scott Laughton at the trade deadline, moving a 1st round pick and a quality prospect in the trade to acquire the versatile forward, there were some mixed reviews.
Most saw Laughton as a guy who could contribute in a bottom-six role, either at centre or on the wing, who could play smart, two-way hockey, kill penalties, and help produce some goals at the bottom of the lineup.
Others felt that Laughton wasn't quite what the team needed, and scorned the team for not swinging a little bigger and acquiring a player who was a clear upgrade in the lineup, and would could play on either the 2nd or 3rd line, depending on the situation.
It was slow-going for Laughton during his first 15 games or so in Toronto, but as we got into the late stages of the season, you could see the former Flyers pivot beginning to figure it out, and now, he has been an integral part of an effective 4th line for the Leafs that can be trusted in just about any situation.
On Saturday, Leafs coach Craig Berube spoke about Laughton candidly, and revealed why he's been so effective in their first round series.
"Well, gamesmanship for sure. I think he's been really good in the face-off circle. You know, the checking side of things, understanding his role. You know, the D-zone face-offs and penalty kill. They're out there against different lines, you know, a lot of times with match-ups and D-zone faceoffs, but he's been solid in all those areas."
Berube has really appreciated what Laughton has brought to the table in the face-off dot in this series. When asked about what he likes, specifically, and why Laughton has been so good on draws, this is what Berube had to say, as per The Hockey News' David Alter.
"Competitiveness for me. You know, I think faceoffs, you know, obviously there's guys that are really good at it. They study, you know, who you're going against a lot of times. That's part of it all. But, you know, if you want to win the draw, you can see hard. If you want to win the draw, you'll win the draw a lot of times. Right?"
The Leafs have a legitimate chance to sweep the Senators tonight, but they'll certainly have to play a tightly-checked, composed, intelligent game in order to do so. These are all areas where Laughton thrives, so it's entirely plausible that, if the team does pull off the sweep tonight, the Laughton line will be a huge factor as to why they were able to win 4-straight to open the playoffs.
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 26 | 2788 ANSWERS Maple Leafs Coach Craig Berube Speaks His Mind About Newcomer Scott Laughton Do you like the Leafs' 4th line of Lorentz, Laughton, and Jarnkrok? | ||
| Yes, they've been great | 1909 | 68.5 % |
| No, they're nothing special | 259 | 9.3 % |
| They're just okay for me | 620 | 22.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
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