Sabres sign Oskari Laaksonen to three-year, entry-level contract

Switzerland's Nando Eggenberger fights for control of the puck with Finland's Oskari Laaksonen during first period IIHF world junior semifinal hockey action in Vancouver, Friday, Jan. 4, 2019. (Jonathan Hayward/CP)

The Buffalo Sabres have signed defenceman Oskari Laaksonen to a three-year, entry-level contract, the team announced Monday.

Laaksonen was the Sabres’ third-round pick, 89th overall, in the 2017 NHL Draft.

“The work Oskari has put in to improve his game has paid off during his last two seasons,” Sabres general manager Jason Botterill said in a press release. “His success on the international stage and what he’s done as a 19- and 20-year-old playing in a professional league is impressive.”

For the past three seasons, the 20-year-old has played with Ilves of the Finnish Elite League. During that time, he registered 40 points in 113 games. Laaksonen ranks fifth all-time in assists among Liiga defencemen before their age-21 seasons.

Laaksonen won a gold medal at the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship, playing alongside fellow Sabres prospect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. He scored one goal and added one assist in seven tournament games.

June 15, 2020

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Oskari Laaksonen
SIGNED BY
Buffalo Sabres
LENGTH
3 yrs
CONTRACT TYPE
Entry-Level Deal
SALARY CAP HIT
N/A
TOTAL
N/A

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