The Toronto native was chosen 162nd overall by the Montreal Canadiens in 1977 after a solid freshman year at Clarkson College. He returned to play his last three years with the school then scored 32 goals for the AHL's Nova Scotia Voyageurs in 1980-81. He split the next season between the Vees and the Habs but was traded to Washington along with Rod Langway, Brian Engblom, and Doug Jarvis.
Laughlin's strong two-way play and productive work on the power play contributed to the Caps' emergence as solid NHL club in the '80s. He topped the 20-goal mark three times and often worked on the same line with Bob Carpenter and Alan Haworth. In February 1988, he was sent to the L.A. Kings for defenceman Grant Ledyard. Prior to the 1988-89 season, he signed as a free agent with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The club's struggles and apathy caused the veteran winger to voice his frustration in public. Laughlin retired after playing for Germany's Landshut club in 1989-90.
Player bios courtesy of the Hockey Hall of Fame
