Oskari Laaksonen

Did You Know?

• Laaksonen appeared for Finland in 6 junior international friendly games in 2016.
• He was selected to represent Finland at the 2019 World Junior Championships in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
• He collected 1 goal in 7 games at the 2019 World Junior Championships, helping Finland claim the gold medal.

Playing career

Laaksonen played youth hockey with Ilves' U16, U18, and U20 teams. After his time with Ilves U20, he was drafted 89th overall by the Sabres in the 2017 NHL entry draft. He made his Liiga debut on 9 January 2018 in a 6–5 loss to HPK, finishing the season with 4 assists in 21 games. On 15 June 2020, the Sabres signed him to a three-year, entry-level contract. He was initially to continue with Ilves for the 2020–21 season, but on 21 September 2020 the Sabres loaned him to fellow Liiga club Lahti Pelicans. Entering the 2022–23 season with the Sabres' AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans, he made only 10 appearances in the opening months. On 15 December 2022, the Sabres traded him to the Dallas Stars for Joseph Cecconi, and he was reassigned to the Texas Stars. He recorded 8 points in 29 regular season games with Texas and added 3 points in 6 playoff contests. As an impending restricted free agent, he opted to return to Europe, signing a two-year contract with Luleå HF of the SHL on 26 May 2023. His NHL rights were relinquished by the Stars on 1 July 2023. After helping Luleå HF win their first championship in 29 years, he left at the end of his two-year tenure and signed a two-year contract with EHC Biel of the NL on 8 May 2025.