Bill Meltzer: Laughton Wins Dupre Award, A Night Out at Home, and More

I'm a fan of Scott Laughton. I think he is an underrated player for the Flyers.

you can tell Laughton puts in the work

his skating just keeps getting better

this year he seemed to be showing a lot more confidence with the puck on his stick too

Carry over question I had from the last thread.

What is the deal with Zamula? I just don’t know much about him even though I have been reading a lot on him. Doesn’t seem like he is a standout D guy. Tall skinny kid who plays a smart game. Not sure I heard of anything else that stands out about his game. His numbers seem decent but not great. He gets a lot of hype. Is it really deserved or is this just a homer kind of thing. Not sure whether to get excited about him. Is his ceiling higher then a bottom pairing kind of guy?

He continues to prove that he is not a finished product. Not saying he will be a Coots but just as Coots continued to grow so does Laughton. I think his ceiling is yet to be determined. Currently, he is a proven 3rd liner on a playoff team. That’s not bad at all.

Carry over question I had from the last thread.

What is the deal with Zamula? I just don’t know much about him even though I have been reading a lot on him. Doesn’t seem like he is a standout D guy. Tall skinny kid who plays a smart game. Not sure I heard of anything else that stands out about his game. His numbers seem decent but not great. He gets a lot of hype. Is it really deserved or is this just a homer kind of thing. Not sure whether to get excited about him. Is his ceiling higher then a bottom pairing kind of guy?
- peesinwind

This pretty much reads like Sanheim prior to his first pro season. Not saying that he's as good, but the description would fit that of Sanheim.

Big fan of Laughton and he did not have easiest path to where he is today. He absolutely works his ass off. crazy to think he was sent down to Phantoms for an extended time after being up with us for while. You can tell the team loves him in the locker room as well.

Laughton is the golden child of the new Flyers system of letting players blossom instead of trading away youth for vets

This pretty much reads like Sanheim prior to his first pro season. Not saying that he's as good, but the description would fit that of Sanheim.
- jmatchett383

If he is like Sanheim, in terms of style, then I get the excitement. If he could develop into a little lesser Sanheim I would be pumped.

Big fan of Laughton and he did not have easiest path to where he is today. He absolutely works his ass off. crazy to think he was sent down to Phantoms for an extended time after being up with us for while. You can tell the team loves him in the locker room as well.
- arichardson22

Yeah, he had his ups and downs and took a lot of criticism from fans. But he is starting to win them over.

I've seen Zamula play a handful of time in the WHL. Even for his size, he has amazing reach and covers a lot of ice and he knows it. He makes good defensive reads at that level and seems to have a good mind for when to close the gap. He has a nice long stride and is confident but pragmatic with the puck. He is not a dangler though. He seems equally comfortable skating or passing the puck out of the zone and can do both well. At that level he gets used on both the PK and PP, I don't see him playing on the PP in the pros. He just is not dynamic with the puck. His shot, while accurate, is slow to wind up and just adequate power wise.

I can see him be a 3-4 defenseman as a pro if things all work out for him. He will likely find steady even strength and PK shifts. I would say his biggest gap and room for growth is physical play down low. Maybe it's just because when I saw him, he rarely had to work hard down low in his own zone that much, but he left me feeling like he could be more determined/aggressive when things get closer to or behind the net.

I like him, I hope this back surgery isn't a major setback for him.
My two cents.

Zamula to me just stood out among the D Prospects at the last training camp, Still young, D is tough and it takes a few years to learn the time to pinch, gaps and all the good details but he really stood out and could be a nice compliment . Training with Provy is of course not a bad thing as well.......Great leader to have around Its quite easy to forget just how young Provy is.

I'm a fan of Scott Laughton. I think he is an underrated player for the Flyers.
- MJL

Same here. Every team needs a guy like him. Talented and hard working, willing to play his role to a T, but with the ability to move up and down the lineup depending on need.

Same here. Every team needs a guy like him. Talented and hard working, willing to play his role to a T, but with the ability to move up and down the lineup depending on need.
- MBFlyerfan

I see Laughton as a player who won't score a lot but will score timely big goals for a team in the playoffs. He helps you get an edge in a bottom 6 matchup.

I've seen Zamula play a handful of time in the WHL. Even for his size, he has amazing reach and covers a lot of ice and he knows it. He makes good defensive reads at that level and seems to have a good mind for when to close the gap. He has a nice long stride and is confident but pragmatic with the puck. He is not a dangler though. He seems equally comfortable skating or passing the puck out of the zone and can do both well. At that level he gets used on both the PK and PP, I don't see him playing on the PP in the pros. He just is not dynamic with the puck. His shot, while accurate, is slow to wind up and just adequate power wise.

I can see him be a 3-4 defenseman as a pro if things all work out for him. He will likely find steady even strength and PK shifts. I would say his biggest gap and room for growth is physical play down low. Maybe it's just because when I saw him, he rarely had to work hard down low in his own zone that much, but he left me feeling like he could be more determined/aggressive when things get closer to or behind the net.

I like him, I hope this back surgery isn't a major setback for him.
My two cents.
- The_Journeyman

Thanks for that insight on Zamula from someone who has watched him. A 3-4 would be great to have that level battling for a spot in the team.

Do you thing that Sanheim and Myers have a ceiling at being a 1 or a 2 at this point. Both are pretty young with talent.

I read Therien’s post on where he thought Provy was in his development (article on the Nisky Effect). Where he is good but not a bonafide franchise defenseman. Think he was just where he is at in his current development. I have to think that everything is leaning towards he will be. He is pretty young to have such a mature game. Gotta think he will get there.

Hoping we got someone in our system that
Can play the other side that can pull in a solid #2.

Zamula to me just stood out among the D Prospects at the last training camp, Still young, D is tough and it takes a few years to learn the time to pinch, gaps and all the good details but he really stood out and could be a nice compliment . Training with Provy is of course not a bad thing as well.......Great leader to have around Its quite easy to forget just how young Provy is.
- GPerogie

I think I read that Zamula called Provy a beast or something like that. Something like he can’t believe that guys are that talented out there. Sounds like he has picked out his mentor.

I see Laughton as a player who won't score a lot but will score timely big goals for a team in the playoffs. He helps you get an edge in a bottom 6 matchup.
- MJL

53.9 face off win percentage ain’t bad to have. Tough in his own end. Yeah, he has some skills that can help a team win. Solid role player.

The team absolutely respects the big P well. I didn't know anything much about him when we drafted him but what an absolutely great pic and pleasant surprise so far. Hate to think of the team without him but luckily we have not been in those shoes

Bill Meltzer: Laughton Wins Dupre Award, A Night Out at Home, and More
- bmeltzer

Scott Laughton plays with heart and works hard every night. The problem with him for me is, I don’t know what he’s suppose to be, which reality isn’t his fault. Is he a center or is he winger? I’d like to finally see him settle into a role.

Scott Laughton plays with heart and works hard every night. The problem with him for me is, I don’t know what he’s suppose to be, which reality isn’t his fault. Is he a center or is he winger? I’d like to finally see him settle into a role.
- SuperSchennBros

He’s now a left winger who plays center when there is an injury down the middle. Someone’s got to do it.

I always kind of liked Laughton, but the one game against the Senators made me love him. The one Tkachuk jumped him at the end.

ttt

I'm a fan of Scott Laughton. I think he is an underrated player for the Flyers.
- MJL

I wasn't at first but I've come around and really like him a lot.

He’s now a left winger who plays center when there is an injury down the middle. Someone’s got to do it.
- NC Flyers Fan

Exactly. He can take face offs as needed and play big minutes on the PP. suited for wing or center. Great to have a guy like this for the price of 2.3. He is payed right.

Would love if they can figure out to resign our RFA in NAK, Myers (a must), and Hagg along with bring back Grant and Braun.

I get that Braun Is easy to let go but he was steady in that back end. So good at taking the hit to hold on to the puck then finding that first outlet pass. We do have cheaper options but he can play.

Grant’s game I like. At least in his limited time with Philly. I haven’t seen him before but as a Flyer he has been great (small sample size). If they can keep him cheap (he will get a raise) then sign him.

Don’t think they can do all that without freeing up some money. Don’t want to trade Ghost now when his value is low. I still think he is a decent D man but that would free up 4.5. Not sure that is what I want to see happen.