Laughton sent back to juniors

January 27, 2013

The Flyers have decided to send rookie forward Scott Laughton back to his OHL junior team the Oshawa Generals.

Laughton was invited to Training Camp after the lockout ended and was able to earn a spot on the team because Danny Briere was not ready to play due to a wrist injury.

The Flyers had five games to decide between keeping Laughton on the roster for the rest of the season or sending him back to juniors. Saturday night's 7-1 win against the Florida Panthers was the fifth game.

A year on his entry level contract would have been used up had the Flyers opted to keep him. Although Laughton has held up for the most part, he has yet to register a point in the NHL.

With Briere now back in the lineup and Tye McGinn playing well, not to mention having players like Eric Wellwood in the AHL ready to be called up, it just doesn't seem worth it right now to keep Laughton on the roster.

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer's Sam Carchidi, Flyers GM Paul Holmgren told Laughton the news this afternoon. Holmgren said that the decision was based on Laughton needing to play.

Homer gave Laughton the news this afternoon. He will go back with Flyers tonight; his team plays Fri.
— Sam Carchidi (@BroadStBull) January 27, 2013

Homer: "He needs to play and needs to play in all situations. The little bit of time he had here was good for him and good for us." #Flyers
— Sam Carchidi (@BroadStBull) January 27, 2013

Laughton tweeted this after learning he would be going back to Oshawa.

Great experience with the @nhlflyers and honored to be apart of such a great organization.
— Scott Laughton (@Laughts21) January 27, 2013

On an added note, and possibly another reason Laughton was sent down, CSNPhilly.com's Tim Panaccio tweeted that Zac Rinaldo may be able to return to the lineup for Tuesday night's road game against the New York Rangers.

Rinaldo has been out with a skate laceration in his leg, which he sustained in the Flyers' second game against the Buffalo Sabres.

Since Rinaldo isn't playing tonight in Tampa Bay, Tom Sestito will be taking Laughton's spot in the lineup according to The Daily News' Frank Seravalli.

(Image from CSNPhilly.com)