Laughton: 'I'm starting to find footing' while adjusting to Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Scott Laughton believes he's on the verge of breaking out of a difficult adjustment period with his new club.
"It's been crazy for sure, but I think I'm starting to find my footing," Laughton said. "I think probably my game in Nashville was one of my better ones, so build on it. Doesn't really matter the role here, you try and help this team and be a part of it."
Laughton has gone pointless and is a minus-5 in eight games with Toronto after being acquired from the Philadelphia Flyers before the trade deadline. He had a goal disallowed Saturday against the Predators and played only 9:52 - his lowest total with the Maple Leafs.
The veteran said entering a new locker room after being a leader with the Flyers has been one of his biggest hurdles.
"Just new comfortability in the room, probably," Laughton said. "It's different. You want to be a part of it but not overstep, especially at the start ... But the guys have been awesome with me. It's been really cool at this time of year to be playing this kind of hockey."
In regards to putting pressure on himself with the move to Toronto, he added, "I'm pretty self-aware of what's going on. Been in the league long enough now where you know when you're going and when you need to pick it up."
Laughton lined up on the wing at practice Monday on a line with Max Domi and Nick Robertson. He's played in numerous roles in his short tenure with Toronto, and head coach Craig Berube said he'll keep experimenting with Laughton at center and wing until he finds a spark.
"Sometimes coming to a new team, it's less to think about," Berube said. "Less to do. I don't want to put so much on him. It's not that he can't play center. He's played center a lot in his career, and he's played wing. He's played both. Just trying to find some chemistry for him."
Laughton and the Maple Leafs return to action Tuesday against the Flyers. They'll enter the contest two points back of the Florida Panthers for the Atlantic Division lead.