## Scott Laughton Finding New Life with the Los Angeles Kings
Published: April 08, 2026 at 10:53AM EDT
Scott Laughton is quickly making an impact with the Los Angeles Kings, and appears to be enjoying his time on the West Coast. The 31-year-old veteran centre has registered five goals and two assists in 16 games since being acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs ahead of the trade deadline in early March. The Kings, currently holding a 32-26-19 record with 83 points, are in a tight race for a playoff spot, just one point behind the Nashville Predators for the second wild-card position in the Western Conference. With five regular-season games remaining, and a game in hand over Nashville, the Kings are firmly focused on securing their place in the postseason.
### Adapting to the California Lifestyle
“My parents were down for the last week, so that was nice to kind of show them around. It’s definitely a big change,” Laughton shared on TSN 1050’s First Up. “I haven’t played on the West Coast. It’s a five-and-a-half-hour flight from home, so it’s been a little different, but it’s been amazing, honestly. Just the opportunity I’ve been given here.”
The transition has been made smoother by his familiarity with Kings interim head coach D.J. Smith, who also coached Laughton during his time with the Oshawa Generals in the Ontario Hockey League from 2010 to 2013.
“Obviously, [I] know the coach from Junior and he’s given me a pretty good leash and a pretty good runway here,” Laughton explained. “The hockey aspect has been a ton of fun for me, then to get out of the rink and to be able to walk with your kid to a patio and go to the beach with them. It’s been a lot of fun, so it’s definitely different, but the way the organization treats you here has been very special.”
### Reflecting on His Time with the Maple Leafs
Despite his positive experience with the Kings, Laughton acknowledged that playing for his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs was a “dream come true,” even if the team didn’t meet expectations this season. He admitted the uncertainty leading up to the trade deadline was “unsettling.”
“I still had a blast getting to know all those guys and the staff there is fantastic,” Laughton said. “It was definitely a whirlwind near the end of it, and just not knowing where you’re going to go or if you’re going to go, so it’s a little bit unsettling for sure.”
He also addressed a minor on-ice incident during his first game against his former team, a scuffle with Michael Knies. “He [Knies] didn’t even say anything bad, but that was the second power-play goal they scored,” Laughton recounted. “I was on for both, so I was a little upset and gave him a light cross-check. I thought it was a weaker call, but definitely not the smartest on my part.”
### Toronto’s Organizational Changes
The situation in Toronto has continued to evolve since Laughton’s departure, with the firing of general manager Brad Treliving. Laughton expressed respect for Treliving and acknowledged the impact of the change on the team. He also noted the importance of team culture, referencing the incident involving Auston Matthews and Radko Gudas.
“I have a lot of respect for him [Treliving] and the way he treated me… But obviously when something big like that happens, it’s a change for the group,” Laughton stated. “There’s a ton of guys in that room that really care about the team and want them to do well.”
### Trade Details and Future Outlook
Laughton was initially acquired by the Maple Leafs from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for draft picks and Nikita Grebenkin. While his stint in Toronto was brief and statistically underwhelming, he’s found a new opportunity to contribute in Los Angeles. The trade that sent him to the Kings for a 2026 conditional third-round pick has been a point of discussion among hockey analysts.
Currently in the final year of a five-year, $15 million contract, Laughton is set to become a free agent this summer. However, his immediate focus remains on helping the Kings reach the playoffs.
“I haven’t even really thought about it [free agency]. I think you think about it right when you get traded and all that, but once I’ve settled in here, I think my focus is on trying to get in the playoffs here and see where that goes,” Laughton explained. “The way they’ve treated me here has been amazing and I’m just having a lot of fun playing for [interim head coach] DJ [Smith] and playing with these guys and getting a good opportunity here.”
The Kings will face the Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers before concluding their regular season with games against the Seattle Kraken and Calgary Flames.
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