The trade that sent Scott Laughton to Toronto last March might still pay off for the Flyers in the long run - Nikita Grebenkin is a promising prospect, and that 2027 first-round pick could turn into something meaningful. But in the here and now, with the Flyers sliding and struggling to find their footing, it’s becoming increasingly clear why general manager Daniel Briere described the move as “a little scary” at the time.
And honestly, it’s starting to look like he had every reason to be nervous.
Philadelphia is 2-6-2 in its last 10 games, and the absence of a player like Laughton - both on the ice and in the locker room - is being felt more than ever. The Flyers’ fourth line has been a black hole for much of the season, and just when Rodrigo Abols was beginning to show signs of life, he went down with a significant ankle injury on Jan.
- Laughton, with his versatility and edge, could’ve stepped into that fourth-line center role seamlessly - and, as he’s done before, moved up the lineup when needed.
And then there’s the penalty kill. Since Dec. 31, the Flyers are operating at just a 65.2% kill rate.
That’s not just below average - it’s a liability. Laughton was a major piece of that unit, and he’s still doing the job in Toronto.
It’s hard not to see the connection between his departure and the Flyers’ sudden special teams struggles.
If you’re looking for a moment that symbolizes this shift, go back to Jan. 8 - Laughton’s first game back in Philly as a visitor.
Late in the third period, he scored a short-handed goal to tie the game. Toronto won in overtime.
It was a gut punch, and in hindsight, maybe a turning point.
But what Laughton brought to the Flyers wasn’t just about penalty kills and depth scoring. He was the emotional heartbeat of the team.
He never wore the “C,” but from 2022-23 until Sean Couturier was officially named captain in February 2024, Laughton was the only player wearing a letter. He was the glue guy - the one who kept everyone connected and accountable.
That mattered. In 2023-24, the Flyers punched above their weight.
They weren’t the most talented team, but they played hard, they played together, and they made life difficult for everyone they faced. That culture - the one Briere, Keith Jones, and then-coach John Tortorella talked about rebuilding - was starting to show results.
Even when they lost, the Flyers made you earn it.
Then Laughton was traded. And the Flyers promptly went 1-8-1 in their next 10 games.
“You really feel it when you lose a guy like [Laughton],” Travis Konecny said recently. “It’s a hard spot to fill.
You can’t replace Scottie. He’s one of a kind.”
Now, more than halfway through the 2025-26 season, the cracks are starting to show - not just in the standings, but in the foundation. And that’s what has head coach Rick Tocchet concerned.
After Monday’s 4-0 shutout loss to the Islanders - a game that could’ve vaulted the Flyers back into a playoff spot - Tocchet didn’t hold back. He’s praised the team’s tight-knit locker room in the past, crediting Tortorella and the organization for building that culture. But now, he’s questioning whether that closeness might be holding them back.
“That’s great, having a tight-knit team,” Tocchet said. “But also, a good friend holds you accountable… I’m not saying yell and scream, but whether it’s practice, or if somebody makes a mistake, don’t be afraid to make your friend accountable.”
That’s the next step for this group, he said - learning how to challenge each other constructively. It’s something you’d expect to already be in place, especially given the culture the Flyers worked so hard to build. But with Laughton gone, maybe it’s not.
And the evidence is piling up.
Yes, the Flyers picked up impressive road wins against Vegas and Colorado last week. But they also blew a point in Utah, where Konecny and Travis Sanheim made costly mistakes and Garnet Hathaway passed up a golden opportunity to bury an empty-netter. Tocchet didn’t hide his frustration with the veterans after that one.
Then came the losses to Buffalo, Pittsburgh, and the Islanders - all four-point games, all against teams the Flyers were ahead of not long ago. And all games where the Flyers came out flat.
“It was a game that was there for us if we would have had some more energy, and a little more desperation,” Sanheim said after Monday’s loss.
That lack of urgency is jarring - especially for a team that’s prided itself on effort and grit. And while the Flyers have more talent on paper than they did the past two seasons, they might be missing some of the intangibles that made them tough to play against.
Couturier, who was supposed to help lead the way, is in the midst of a brutal slump - 24 straight games without a goal. He’s still one of the smartest players on the ice, and his advanced metrics remain solid, but the offensive touch just isn’t there right now. For a guy getting big minutes, that’s a problem.
Then there’s Hathaway. Two points in 44 games.
He was scratched against the Islanders - a game tailor-made for his physical, grinding style. That says a lot.
The good news? Some younger players are starting to step up.
Tocchet pointed to defenseman Jamie Drysdale as a vocal leader during their comeback win in Colorado, where the Flyers scored four third-period goals to knock off one of the league’s best. Drysdale said the bench was buzzing with positive energy - and that he made a point to speak up.
“I think everyone on the team has a say,” Drysdale said. “There have been games where I think we could use a little more vocalness on the bench.”
Whether that kind of leadership becomes a consistent presence down the stretch could determine where this season goes. Because one thing’s for sure - Laughton isn’t walking through that door. With the Flyers retaining salary in the trade, the CBA prevents them from reacquiring him this season, even if Toronto wanted to move him.
So it’s on this group - the veterans, the young guys, the coaching staff - to find a spark and string some wins together.
“We have to start getting on a roll a little bit and win some consecutive games,” Sanheim said. “To do that, we’re going to need the group to be buying in. That starts with the guys that are leading.”
The Flyers still have time to right the ship. But they’ll need more than just talent. They’ll need the accountability, the edge, and the culture that once defined them - and right now, feels just out of reach.