TAMPA, Fla.— Scott Laughton was 18 the last time he played in an NHL regular-season opener. But there aren’t any parallels between Jan. 19, 2013 and tonight. Not even close. His role is different. The circumstances are different.
That was after a four-day training camp after the NHL’s lockout and the start of a lockout-shortened season. Selected 20th overall in the 2012 draft, Laughton had already played half a season with his Canadian Junior team, the Oshawa Generals.
A matchup with the rivaled Pittsburgh Penguins in a short season after a short camp was the definition of sending Laughton to the wolves.