| Craig Laughlin | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born | (1957-09-14)September 14, 1957 (age 67) Toronto,Ontario, Canada | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) | ||
| Weight | 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb) | ||
| Position | Right wing | ||
| Shot | Right | ||
| Played for | Montreal Canadiens Washington Capitals Los Angeles Kings Toronto Maple Leafs EV Landshut | ||
| NHL draft | 162nd overall,1977 Montreal Canadiens | ||
| Playing career | 1977–1990 | ||
Craig Alan Laughlin (born September 14, 1957) is a Canadian former professionalice hockey right wing, who is the color analyst for theWashington Capitals onMonumental Sports Network. He played in theNational Hockey League with theMontreal Canadiens,Washington Capitals,Los Angeles Kings, andToronto Maple Leafs between 1981 and 1989.
Laughlin was born inToronto,Ontario.[1] As a youth, he played in the 1970Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with aminor ice hockey team from Toronto.[2]
Laughlin was drafted in 1977 by theMontreal Canadiens. He played for several years with theNova Scotia Voyageurs of theAmerican Hockey League, Montreal's minor league affiliate, before he made it onto the Canadiens' roster for part of the1981–82 season.[1] In September 1982, Laughlin was traded to theWashington Capitals as part of a six-player blockbuster trade that sent him,Brian Engblom,Doug Jarvis andRod Langway to Washington in exchange forRick Green andRyan Walter.[3][4]
Laughlin got an opportunity to establish himself as a full-time player with the Capitals. His contributions helped guide the Capitals to their first playoff appearance in team history. Laughlin also served as a team ambassador during his tenure with the Capitals, often making appearances in theWashington, D.C., area to help grow the team's footprint in the region.
Laughlin was traded to theLos Angeles Kings on February 9, 1988, in exchange forGrant Ledyard.[5] He played the1988–89 season, his final season in the NHL, for theToronto Maple Leafs. Laughlin would play one season for EV Landshut of theGerman Hockey League before retiring from active play. In 549 NHL games, Laughlin scored 136 goals and had 205 assists.[1]
Laughlin has been the television color analyst for Capitals games since 1990, where he has paired withJoe Beninati since 1994.[6][7] He also participates in many Capitals Alumni activities and is involved in charity work in the Washington, D.C., area.
Laughlin played collegiate hockey atClarkson University; his uniform #22 is retired by the school.[8]
Laughlin and his wife Linda have two children, Courtney and Kyle. The family resides inAnne Arundel County, Maryland.[9]
Laughlin underwent cardiac surgery on February 4, 2025. Initial indications are that the procedure was successful.[10]
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1976–77 | Clarkson University | NCAA | 33 | 12 | 13 | 25 | 44 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1977–78 | Clarkson University | NCAA | 30 | 17 | 31 | 48 | 56 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1978–79 | Clarkson University | NCAA | 30 | 18 | 29 | 47 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1979–80 | Clarkson University | NCAA | 34 | 18 | 30 | 48 | 38 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1979–80 | Nova Scotia Voyageurs | AHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1980–81 | Nova Scotia Voyageurs | AHL | 46 | 32 | 29 | 61 | 15 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | ||
| 1981–82 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 36 | 12 | 11 | 23 | 33 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 1981–82 | Nova Scotia Voyageurs | AHL | 26 | 14 | 15 | 29 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1982–83 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 75 | 17 | 27 | 44 | 41 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 1983–84 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 80 | 20 | 32 | 52 | 69 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 6 | ||
| 1984–85 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 78 | 16 | 34 | 50 | 38 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 1985–86 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 75 | 30 | 45 | 75 | 43 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 10 | ||
| 1986–87 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 80 | 22 | 30 | 52 | 67 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1987–88 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 40 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1987–88 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 19 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 1988–89 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 66 | 10 | 13 | 23 | 41 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1989–90 | EV Landshut | Germany | 35 | 22 | 11 | 33 | 80 | 18 | 10 | 37 | 47 | 10 | ||
| NHL totals | 549 | 136 | 205 | 341 | 364 | 33 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 20 | ||||