Leafs' Scott Laughton catching fire, but was absent from practice; Should we be concerned?

The Maple Leafs struggled mightily in November, but as the calendar has flipped to a new month, the team has really turned over a new leaf, stringing together wins and collecting 7 points of a possible 8 over the last 4 games. A big contributor has been Scott Laughton.

According to league stats from December 1 to December 8, Scott Laughton scored three goals in three games, tying him for the third most goals in the NHL over that span. Only Carter Verhaeghe and Nathan MacKinnon scored more.

For a player known more for grit, intelligence and defensive reliability than his scoring, Laughton suddenly flashed the kind of finish usually found higher in the lineup -- and at a crucial time for the Leafs.

What makes this pop even more significant is timing. Toronto has struggled to generate consistent offense from outside its stars, and Laughton's surge arrived as injuries, goaltending uncertainty and a tight Eastern Conference squeeze added pressure.

His goals weren't cosmetic either; they stabilized games, pushed momentum and showed a veteran recognizing when his team needed more.

Laughton's underlying week was strong too. His three goals came with a plus three rating, and his pace driving shifts opened the zone for linemates who had been quiet lately. The confidence is evident in his stride and in his touches.

Unfortunately for the Leafs, Laughton was absent from practice on Monday, creating some concern that the team may be once again losing a valuable depth piece.

Laughton has missed time already this season -- once for a lower-body injury suffered during the pre-season and a suspected concussion suffered in just his 2nd game back from injury. Hopefully he can avoid any major setbacks here and can continue to provide some additional secondary scoring.

His ability to play center or wing, kill penalties and inject energy has always been valued, but his scoring bursts were the swing trait that could elevate him from useful to essential. Toronto is witnessing that version now.

This was the player they had hoped they were acquiring when they traded Nikita Grebenkin and a 1st round draft pick to pick him up back in March.

Even more encouraging is that Laughton's surge mirrors a growing comfort in Toronto's system. Craig Berube demands predictability, pace and purpose, and Laughton has delivered all three. When he plays direct, he becomes a forechecking menace who forces defenses into mistakes - and this week, he punished opponents for making those mistakes.

If the Ontario native can avoid another stint on the sidelines and if the Leafs can keep this version of Laughton rolling, they gain something they've lacked all season: a bottom six threat who can tilt a game when the stars are bottled up.

Matias Maccelli was listed as a placeholder in the lineup, so perhaps Laughton's absence this morning was for routine maintenance.