Through six games, Laughton leaving Maple Leafs wanting more

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Just do your thing.

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That’s the advice Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube has for centre Scott Laughton, who hasn’t done much of anything since he was acquired from the Philadelphia Flyers at the National Hockey League trade deadline on March 7.

Laughton had a rough go in the Leafs’ 2-1 victory against the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday night at Scotiabank Arena. When Laughton was on the ice at five-on-five, the Leafs were outshot 7-1 and Colorado had 15 shot attempts to Toronto’s three.

We wouldn’t necessarily suggest that Laughton’s play in six games since the trade has been worrisome, as enough of the regular season (14 games) remains for the Oakville native to get his game in order before the Stanley Cup playoffs.

If Laughton started to show a consistent uptick in his overall showing, however, we imagine the Leafs would be just fine with that.

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Against the always difficult Avalanche — and let’s be clear, without the stellar 38-save performance of Joseph Woll, the Leafs don’t win — Laughton played 11 minutes 13 seconds, his lowest ice time in a game during his brief tenure in blue and white.

“I think he’s trying to probably play the game without making mistakes and he’s overthinking things instead of just playing,” Berube said afterward.

“Be aggressive, do your thing, and that will come around, I do believe that. He wants to do well and he just has to loosen up and go play. Use your ability, you’re a good player, you played in the league a long time. I think he’s holding back a little bit, too safe almost.”

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The Leafs probably figured that the adjustment wasn’t going to take Laughton as long as it has. The cost to get the 30-year-old Laughton wasn’t cheap.

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When you’re sending prospect Nikita Grebenkin and a first-round pick to the Flyers, as the Leafs did (and they also received a fourth-round pick and a sixth-round pick), the assumption within might have been that Laughton would snap into form with his new team rather quickly.

It didn’t happen during the four-game home stand, but Laughton will attempt to get on the right side of it as the Leafs make stops in New York on Thursday and in Nashville on Saturday for games against the Rangers and Predators, respectively.

Laughton has yet to register his first point with the Leafs. Berube moved away from trying Max Domi on a line with Laughton rather quickly, though the coach could go back to that at some point.

Having Laughton on the fourth line and playing fewer minutes than he was getting in Philadelphia isn’t what the Leafs had in mind when they traded for him.

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In Laughton’s six games, the Leafs have been outscored 4-1 at five-on-five when he is on the ice.

Could it be that Laughton, in playing for his home-town team, has been thinking too much about making an impression?

“I’m sure that’s part of it,” Berube said. “He is from here and he has a lot going on and people and everything else.

“You want to please, right? He has to forget about pleasing and play.”

Certainly, Laughton, who was not available to media after the game, will strive to be in better form when the Flyers, the only other NHL team he has known, visit the Leafs on Tuesday.

tkoshan@postmedia.com

X: @koshtorontosun

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