LEAFS NOTES: Loss of Laughton, Johnson underline Flyers’ playoff reality​on March 26, 2025 at 2:24 am

When the Philadelphia Flyers traded Scott Laughton and Erik Johnson, it was more than just farewell.

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Coach John Tortorella knew it meant the playoff ship had sailed without himself and the rest of the team. On March 1, Philadelphia’s record was 27-26-8 and there was a whiff of hope for playoffs. Ten losses in the 11 games that followed, up to Tuesday in Toronto, ended that.

“Our players still kept us competitive until around the deadline when everybody started leaving,” Tortorella noted Tuesday morning.  “When a number left (Laughton to the Leafs, Johnson to Colorado, and Andrei Kuzmenko to the Kings), this was a necessary part of this rebuild. It was talked about for over a year.”

Thus eventual elimination didn’t come as a shock, based on the blueprint shared by the coach, Comcast Spectacor chairman Daniel Hilferty, team president Keith Jones, and general manager Danny Briere.

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“We’re in constant conversations of the pain we’re going to feel here,” Tortorella said. “I respect we’re following through with it, but when you’re in it, it sucks. It sucks for me to see the players go through it. It’s a grind for us (coaches), but I want the players to feel good about themselves.”

The often-fiery Torts didn’t go head-hunting during or after a 7-4 loss to Chicago on Sunday. The Blackhawks are one of the few teams lower than the Flyers in the NHL standings.

“I’ve changed my coaching, I’ve changed the style of play based on our (post-deadline) lineup,” he said. “We’re all trying to (end the schedule) with dignity, do it the right way.

“I know where we’re at, they know where they’re at, let’s not dodge that. For the three years I’ve been here, the guys I think are the foundation for the team that will win someday here, I think they’ve done their job. I want them to continue to do their job through this.

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“There is nothing coming for us after April 17 (Game 82 in Buffalo). We just want to concentrate on getting there. Then we’ll see where we go as an organization that way.”

New dressing room leaders will have to emerge next season under captain Sean Couturier. Forward Travis Konecny said Laughton’s absence in particular leaves a void.

“It’s going to take the whole summer to re-group, get the team back to normal,” Konecny predicted. “When you lose someone like that, it’s going to (linger). He’s been a staple in the room since I’ve been here and he runs everything, including getting the guys together.”

NEW TEAM, NEW ROADS

As someone traded or signed by multiple times in his career, Max Domi knows what players such as Laughton and new Toronto defenceman Brandon Carlo went through this month.

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“It’s a strange thing that we do in our game, but it’s also a business,” Domi said Tuesday morning. “I honestly believe one of the hardest things in our sport is getting traded at the deadline. Top to bottom, the challenges, just away from the rink, it’s not easy.

“Anything from just driving to the rink or showing up and seeing different security people. It’s those little details you never think of; (where to get) breakfast, how you get to the airport from practice, the game rink or your house.

“It sounds kind of dumb, but we’re so driven by these rituals and routines we have, it throws you off. But it’s also a real opportunity to grow as an athlete and a human being. You grind through with your teammates.”

LUKE USES FORCE

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“The Leafs are getting a high-character young man who thinks the game at a high level, plays a 200-foot game, competes every day, and ultimately scores because he’s willing to get inside and be around the net. The future is bright for Luke. We’re proud of all he has accomplished and excited to see how far he can take his career. He’s 21 and just starting to scratch the surface of what he can become.”

Ottawa native Haymes signed a two-year deal with Toronto, starting next year, after his team was eliminated from NCAA playoffs on the weekend.The undrafted Haymes was invited to the Leafs prospect camp in 2023. After breaking his hand early this season and missing 11 games, he had 12 goals and six assists in 22 appearances. In 83 total games through three seasons at Dartmouth, he managed 70 points.

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He’ll report for an amateur tryout to the Marlies, where Cashman played 15 games with Toronto’s farm team between 2006-08.

LOOSE LEAFS

Another reason the Flyers will miss Laughton was the great pride he took being in charge of dressing room music … Konecny found it amusing that after years of in-house chirping with Laughton, they’ll go at it for real. “If you saw us day-to-day, you’d have thought we don’t like each other,” Konecny said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s running around hitting us (Tuesday night), doing his usual Lotty stuff” … The Leafs have only four home games in their remaining 11 after Tuesday … The Hockey Hall of Fame has named Jamie Dinsmore to succeed long-time executive Jeff Denomme as the next president and CEO. Denomme has a planned retirement in June.

Lhornby@postmedia.com 

X: @sunhornby 

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