While he only played part of the last 2025-26 regular season with the Los Angeles Kings, veteran center Scott Laughton brought exactly what the team needed at the trade deadline.
The veteran center helped stabilize the Kings' lineup down the stretch and provided valuable experience during the team's push toward the postseason.
Laughton's playoff experience was one of the reasons the Kings targeted him at the trade deadline, although the team's early postseason exit limited his overall impact in that area.
Scott Laughton's performance for the Los Angeles Kings in the 2025-26 season
The Kings acquired Laughton from the Toronto Maple Leafs at the trade deadline this past March. He helped the Kings fill a big need for a proven two-way player to add depth and versatility at the center position this past regular season.
Laughton made an immediate impact on the Kings' lineup in the middle of the roster at the center position down the stretch this past regular season.
The Kings did not acquire Laughton to be a game-breaking offensive player. They acquired him to add experience, defensive reliability, and stability at center for a playoff push. In that regard, he largely delivered what Los Angeles expected when it made the trade deadline move.
His leadership and playoff experience also helped fill an important veteran role in the locker room following the departure of several key voices in recent seasons.
Laughton was solid, as expected, for the Kings on both sides of the ice. He also provided more offensive production than many expected after arriving in Los Angeles. He registered five goals and eight total points in over 20 games played this past regular season for the Kings.
In total, Laughton registered double-digit goals and 20 total points in 62 games played in the 2025-26 regular season. He played most of the last season with the Maple Leafs for over 40 games.
Given the role he played and the stability he provided at center, there is a strong argument that Laughton was one of the Kings' most underrated additions of the season.
While Laughton may not have transformed the Kings offensively, he successfully filled the role Los Angeles envisioned when it acquired him at the trade deadline.
What to expect from Scott Laughton moving forward with the Los Angeles Kings in the 2026-27 season?
Re-signing Laughton makes a lot of sense for both sides this offseason. He was in the final year of his contract when the Kings acquired him at the trade deadline this past regular season from the Maple Leafs.
I think it would be a good fit for Laughton to return to the Kings on a one or a two-year contract deal as a middle-six veteran center in the middle of the roster lineup. He could provide valuable stability and consistency at center for the Kings as the organization transitions into a new era following Kopitar's retirement.
Laughton's future in Los Angeles remains one of the more interesting offseason storylines. The Kings clearly need additional help down the middle following Anze Kopitar's retirement, and retaining a veteran two-way center like Laughton would provide stability while the organization searches for a long-term solution.
Even if he returns, Laughton is probably best suited for a middle-six role rather than being relied upon as a top-line center. His defensive reliability, penalty-killing ability, and leadership still make him a valuable piece for a team trying to remain competitive in the Western Conference.
