He played junior hockey with the Nelson Knights and then joined the senior Nelson Maple Leafs from 1963 to 1966. Laughton turned pro in 1966-67 with the Victoria Maple Leafs and was chosen in the 1967 NHL Expansion Draft by the Oakland Seals. Laughton reached a peak of 20 goals for the Seals in 1968-69. The next year he slipped to 16 goals and then injuries reduced him to 25 games played in 1970-71. The next season he was traded to the Montreal Canadiens and he spent the 1971-72 season helping the Nova Scotia Voyageurs win the Calder Cup.