NHL Insider believes there's one lineup decision the Leafs really are overdue to make
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
NHL Insider Nick Kypreos believes that the Toronto Maple Leafs are wasting the talent of one of their depth forwards, who has a lot more to offer the team.
There isn't much going right for the Toronto Maple Leafs this season, from both a health standpoint and a team play standpoint.
Owners of a 15-13-5 record through 33 games, the team is still just 4 points back of a playoff spot, but can't seem to go on any sort of a meaningful run of games and sustain any momentum.
Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube just can't seem to win with these players, regardless of how much lineup shuffling he does, but there are a few moves that he could make that might help the team find their rhythm.
Nick Kypreos believes the Leafs should increase Scott Laughton's ice time
Obviously, re-adding Matias Maccelli to the lineup is one of those moves. Berube did allude to the fact that he's going to try to get the 24-year-old Fin back into the lineup soon. This week, Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos pointed out another move that might help.
"I'd still like to see Scott Laughton play more than 11 minutes a game. Giving up a 1st round pick last March has to be for more than a standard fourth-liner. He becomes a UFA at the end of the season and I don't like his chances of re-signing here without more minutes." - Kypreos on increasing Scott Laughton's ice time.
Laughton has missed a lot of time this season due to a lower-body injury, which he suffered in the pre-season, followed by an upper-body injury in just his second game back. However, since he's been back, Laughton has often looked like one of the most mentally and physically engaged players on any given night. For a team who is struggling with their effort, giving someone like Laughton more ice time could help.
Kyper does have a point that it's pretty counter-intuitive to have given up so much for a forward that barely plays. Especially one who brings the effort on a nightly basis and has a pretty decent scoring history.
The 31-year-old has played in just 15 games for the Leafs thus far, but has seen most of his start in the defensive zone, which has limited him to just 4 points this season.
Laughton has shown in the past, though, the ability to put the puck in the net. He has 7 seasons in which he has scored double digits in goals, including a career high 18 goals in 2022-23. It really can't get any worse at this point, so trying Laughton a little higher in the lineup really does seem like one of those situations where you've got nothing to lose if you're Craig Berube.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 19 | 955 ANSWERS NHL Insider believes there's one lineup decision the Leafs really are overdue to make Should the Toronto Maple Leafs give Scott Laughton an opportunity to play more? | ||
| Yes | 872 | 91.3 % |
| No | 83 | 8.7 % |
| List of polls | ||