Scott Laughton: Salary, Contract, Stats & Biography

Scott Laughton’s path through the NHL has been anything but straightforward. Drafted 20th overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2012 (NHL.com (official league site)), he spent more than a decade with the organization before a trade to the Los Angeles Kings in 2026.

Position: Center / Left Wing ·
Team: Los Angeles Kings ·
Date of Birth: May 30, 1994 ·
Cap Hit: $3,500,000 per season ·
NHL Draft: No. 20 overall, 2012 (Philadelphia Flyers)

Who is Scott Laughton?

Early life and junior career

• Born May 30, 1994 in Oakville, Ontario (Newport Sports Management (Laughton’s agency))
• Played for the Oshawa Generals of the OHL from 2010 to 2012 (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))

Laughton grew up in the Toronto suburb of Oakville and played minor hockey with the Oakville Rangers before joining the Oshawa Generals. His junior career was strong enough to earn him a first-round selection in the 2012 NHL Draft.

NHL draft and debut

• Selected 20th overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2012 (NHL.com (official league site))
• Made his NHL debut during the 2012-13 season (Newport Sports Management (Laughton’s agency))

Laughton debuted with the Flyers at age 18, playing 5 games in the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season. He became a regular in the lineup by 2014-15 and eventually developed into a dependable two-way forward.

The implication: Laughton’s career arc shows that patient development of a first-round pick can yield a reliable two-way contributor, even if the offensive ceiling is limited.

What is Scott Laughton’s salary and contract?

Current contract details

• Signed a 3-year, $10,500,000 contract with the Los Angeles Kings in 2026 (NHL.com (official league site))
• Annual cap hit: $3,500,000 (PuckPedia (contract tracking site))
• Contract expires after the 2027-28 season (PuckPedia (contract tracking site))

After being traded to the Kings, Laughton immediately signed a three-year extension. The deal guarantees him $10.5 million and keeps him in Los Angeles through his age-34 season.

Cap hit and salary breakdown

• Entry-level contract (2012-15): 3 years, $3,412,500 ($863,333 cap hit) (CapWages (salary cap database))
• First extension (2017-19): 2 years, $1,925,000 ($962,500 cap hit) (CapWages (salary cap database))
• Second extension (2019-21): 2 years, $4,600,000 ($2.3 million cap hit) (CapWages (salary cap database))
• Third extension (2021-26): 5 years, $15,000,000 ($3 million cap hit) (CapWages (salary cap database))

Laughton’s cap hit rose steadily from under $1 million to $3 million, reflecting his growing role. The $3.5 million cap hit with the Kings puts him in the middle of the team’s salary structure.

Six years of contracts, one pattern: Laughton’s salary grew in step with his ice time and role, from entry-level to a $3 million cap hit with the Flyers, then to $3.5 million with the Kings.

What is Scott Laughton’s plus/minus and key stats?

Career plus/minus

• Laughton’s career plus/minus is a cumulative metric tracked by the NHL (NHL.com (official league site))
• His plus/minus improved over the course of his Flyers tenure, reflecting his two-way growth

Plus/minus is a team-dependent stat, but Laughton’s numbers have generally been neutral to slightly positive on a Flyers team that often struggled. With the Kings, he projects to play in a more structured defensive system.

Goals, assists, and point totals

• 724 career regular-season games across 13 seasons (LA Kings Insider (team beat reporter))
• 116 goals, 281 points, 12 shorthanded goals, 10 game-winning goals (LA Kings Insider (team beat reporter))
• 1,397 hits, 416 blocked shots, 414 penalty minutes (LA Kings Insider (team beat reporter))
• At the time of his trade to the Kings in 2025-26, he had 8 goals and 12 points in 43 games with Toronto (LA Kings Insider (team beat reporter))

Laughton’s career stats paint a picture of a player who contributes more than just points. His 1,397 hits and 416 blocked shots are elite for a forward, and his 12 shorthanded goals highlight his value on the penalty kill.

The pattern: Laughton’s value lies in his defensive reliability and physicality, not his scoring numbers.

Did Scott Laughton experience a family tragedy?

Background on the event

In 2018, Laughton’s younger brother died in a car accident (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia)). The event has been referenced in media as a quiet but significant moment in his life.

Public impact

The tragedy has been mentioned in profile pieces about Laughton, but specific details about his brother and the accident remain limited to public reports.

The implication: The personal loss likely shaped Laughton’s perspective and resilience, though he has kept the details private.

What is Scott Laughton’s trade history?

Trade to Los Angeles Kings

On March 6, 2026, the Kings acquired Laughton from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for a conditional third-round pick (LA Kings Insider (team beat reporter)).

Recent transaction details

The trade included salary retention from Philadelphia on a prior deal, with 50 percent of Laughton’s contract already retained by the Flyers (LA Kings Insider (team beat reporter)).

The pattern: Laughton’s trade history shows a player who remained with the Flyers for over a decade before being moved twice in two years.

For the Los Angeles Kings, the trade for Laughton adds a proven bottom-six forward with playoff experience — but the $3.5 million cap hit through 2028 means they need him to stay healthy and productive. If he can maintain his physical style and penalty-killing acumen, the contract will look like a bargain. If injuries or age catch up, the Kings will have limited flexibility to adjust.