Auston Matthews points to a growing locker-room bond fueled by unexpected leaders

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews noted that a new locker-room bond has been led by an unlikely source, and the team is thriving because of it.

Coming off a spectacular 4-3 OT win over the league-leading Colorado Avalanche, the Toronto Maple Leafs are feeling fantastic as of late. Winners of eight of their last ten games, they've been tough as nails to play against and have a never say die attitude.

A lot of that can be attributed to the reemergence of Auston Matthews as the captain has broken out of his nearly year and a half long slump to finally show glimpses of the player who scored 69 goals.

Scott Laughton leading the united front for Toronto

The team seems as united as ever, they are fighting for each other and not letting anything slide; a contrast to what we saw earlier this season and fans have a couple of unlikely sources to thank.

Matthews explained post-win that the locker room is as close as it has been and the guys leading the way are Scott Laughton and Max Domi, two guys who have received their share of criticism from the fanbase.

The captain was asked about Easton Cowan's play as of late, where he mentioned that the rookie is part of a small but tight-knit group which includes Matthews himself:

Laughts continues to bring that confidence out in him (Easton Cowan). He gets to Cowan and kind of gives him that extra confidence he may have hidden away.

But we got a great little group together at the rink. Laughts [Laughton], myself, Dom's [Domi] and him [Cowan] we all sit together, and he's an incredible player. It's his first year and he'll only get better.

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It's great to see that Cowan not only has a load of confidence in his game now, but that a guy like Laughton is leading the charge especially after questions about his fit.

Scott Laughton deserves credit for turning Toronto's season around

Acquired last season for Nikita Grebenkin and a first-rounder, Laughton didn't really get his footing last season in minimal time, and found himself missing the first bit of the season with a foot injury.

But since returning he's been a man possessed. Not only has he brought the locker room together but he's bringing the heat on the ice.

While he only has seven points in 27 games (5 goals, 2 assists), Laughton has two shorthanded goals, is winning 61.5% of his face-offs (including an astounding 36-6 record in his two games prior to Monday night vs. Colorado) and is also the key focal point in their incredible penalty kill.

For all the concerns about him not offering what Toronto needs, he's clearly been a key part of why the Maple Leafs' season has turned around. While he's a free agent at the end of the year, the team should seriously consider bringing him back for a few more seasons.

Laughton is a 13-year veteran who has been around the block a few times. He's the type of player you love to have on your roster but often go under-appreciated because he's not as flashy or as well-known as others.

But fans are quickly learning exactly what Scott Laughton brings to the table, and it's something that has turned the Maple Leafs from pretenders to contenders.

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