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Prior to a game last week, Scott Laughton had very little in common with a one-time scoring machine named John LeClair – except both were (primarily) left wingers and had a history with the Philadelphia Flyers.
But for one night, at least, both became connected.
Laughton scored four goals in Thursday’s 4-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings, becoming the first Flyer to turn on the red light four times in a game since LeClair did it in Montreal on Oct. 15, 2002.
“I don’t really remember much about that game,” LeClair admitted Tuesday.
LeClair, however, does remember the uncanny success he had against his former team, the Montreal Canadiens. After his four-score outburst against them in 2002, that gave him 28 goals and 43 points in 29 games against the Habs.
“It wasn’t revenge or anything like that,” said LeClair, a five-time all-star who played on the Flyers’ famed ‘Legion of Doom’ line with Eric Lindros and Mikael Renberg. “Just something that happened.”
As for Laughton, LeClair said he is an underappreciated player. Laughton plays mostly on the fourth line and is one of the Flyers’ best penalty-killers.
“He does a great job playing his role,” said LeClair, as Laughton and the Flyers will again face the Red Wings on Wednesday.
Now 55, LeClair has spent the last 18 months working for the Flyers as a special advisor to hockey operations, checking the progress of their draft picks and minor-leaguers.
“I love it,” he said.
He spoke highly about undrafted 6-foot-3, 200-pound center Jacob Gaucher, 23, who leads the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms with 11 goals and last week signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Flyers.
“Jake had some time last year in Reading (of the ECHL), and he just keeps getting better and better,” said LeClair, who scored 333 of his 406 career goals with the Flyers. “I was really happy for him to get an NHL contract.”
LeClair believes Gaucher will get a chance “to play up here with the big guys.”
It could happen at some point this season because Flyers centers have struggled to score. Philadelphia centers have just 13 goals this season, compared to 16 for their defensemen.
“He’s a smart hockey player who is always on the right side of the puck,” LeClair said about Gaucher. “He uses his body well. Those are his biggest assets.”
LeClair said there are many players in the Flyers’ system “who are improving and coming along really well.” He mentioned defensemen Helge Grans (Phantoms) and Emil Andrae, who is currently with Philadelphia.
Added LeClair: “There are a lot of guys who need to get a little more adjusted to the pro game.”
Lehigh Valley’s Hunter McDonald, 22, a 6-foot-4, 205-pound defenseman who was a sixth-round draft choice in 2022, and right winger Samu Tuomaala are among the players who fit that bill, he said. Tuomaala (5-10, 180), 21, a second-round draft choice in 2021, is in his second season with the Phantoms, a team he leads with 20 points in his 24 games.
“We’ve got a lot of guys in Allentown who hopefully will be here soon,” LeClair said.
At some point this season, the rebuilding Flyers may call for help from a few prospects. Philadelphia is 20th in the NHL in scoring (2.90 goals per game) and 26th in goals allowed (3.35 per game).
Related: Flyers Must Center In On A Problem That’s Caused Trade Rumors
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