Prospect Info: Oskari Laaksonen (2017, 89th) 2018-19 Ilves - Traded to Dallas

[Doug Prishpreed]

Yeah, I'm aware. And it wouldn't be good for his development. My post was more about something needs to be done about Miller and the mystique Granato is building for himself.

RHD quality and depth is definitely an issue, I agree. I hope the Eichel trade at least partially address that.

 

[Matt Ress]

Laaksonen is one of my favorite prospects.

He is not ready for the NHL. I'm not sure he is even average AHL level defensive play. He needs to develop in this facet and improve several fold.

Coach Appert said that Buffalo has Dahlin and other NHL teams have one first PP quarterback. So Laaaksonen needs to improve his defensive play and transition game to make the NHL.

He has some development to do. The exciting part is that he has some skill and is a good passer and skater. I wouldn't rule him out.

 

[Chainshot]

http://www.buffalohockeybeat.com/sabres-prospect-oskari-laaksonen-generating-offense-for-amerks/

 

[zuikan]

RHD quality and depth is definitely an issue, I agree. I hope the Eichel trade at least partially address that.

Well, it didn't at least yet. Laak looks to be back on track though.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Well, it didn't at least yet. Laak looks to be back on track though.

Back on track to what? He's a long shot to ever play more than 20 games in the NHL.

 

[zuikan]

Back on track to what? He's a long shot to ever play more than 20 games in the NHL.

Appert sounds more confident about him than you are. I'll go ahead and predict he plays all season for the Sabres next year and we can check back.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Appert sounds more confident about him than you are. I'll go ahead and predict he plays all season for the Sabres next year and we can check back.

He sounds like a coach struggling to find something good to say about a struggling player. That's the least confident I've ever heard an Amerks coach be about a prospect.

You do remember the last 20 years worth of praise heaped on prospects that never played a single NHL game, right?

 

[zuikan]

i didn't hear any struggling, or hyperbole, just a candid assessment of what he's good at and what he needs to work on.

 

[2 others]

Why is everyone sleeping on this guy? He was once touted as a skilled D. My guess is that there have been other players coming up and taking away the discussion about him, players like Samuelsson and Johnson, and now Power. He's a sleeper and most likely keeper imo

I see a similar trajectory as Asplund here, a solid #5/6 with good PPQB traits, which would make him the 2nd PP guy behind Dahlin. I think he will need to be added into future roster speculations as a fixture

 

[Fjordy]

Why is everyone sleeping on this guy? He was once touted as a skilled D. My guess is that there have been other players coming up and taking away the discussion about him, players like Samuelsson and Johnson, and now Power. He's a sleeper and most likely keeper imo

I see a similar trajectory as Asplund here, a solid #5/6 with good PPQB traits, which would make him the 2nd PP guy behind Dahlin. I think he will need to be added into future roster speculations as a fixture

Probably it would be difficult for him to take PP time from Dahlin or Power. Power's okay at PP. But in general I agree, he could be a good third pair player or even get time in the top 4.

 

[Jim Bob]

Probably it would be difficult for him to take PP time from Dahlin or Power. Power's okay at PP. But in general I agree, he could be a good third pair player or even get time in the top 4.

I could see him pairing with Power on PP2 next season, if he is up with the big club.

 

[2 others]

Probably it would be difficult for him to take PP time from Dahlin or Power. Power's okay at PP. But in general I agree, he could be a good third pair player or even get time in the top 4.

Oh yes, already forgetting Power here.. So it could be a PP battle between Power/Laaksonen, if Laaksonen pans out.

 

[Gabrielor]

He looked like money in the bank...on the pp.

He made a few key defensive plays...but on the pp.

5v5...needs work.

 

[Fjordy]

I could see him pairing with Power on PP2 next season, if he is up with the big club.

Perhaps, but Laaksonen will still need to hack the roster, it is not yet clear which path Adams will take and how he will solve the lack of RDs in the organization.

 

[Jim Bob]

Perhaps, but Laaksonen will still need to hack the roster, it is not yet clear which path Adams will take and how he will solve the lack of RDs in the organization.

Well, seeing as how he is the second best RHD that they have under contract for next season, his odds of cracking the roster aren't that bad.

And the odds are looking pretty good that he might be up after the TDL.

 

[Fjordy]

Well, seeing as how he is the second best RHD that they have under contract for next season, his odds of cracking the roster aren't that bad.

And the odds are looking pretty good that he might be up after the TDL.

I'm talking about this, we do not know what thoughts Adams has. Completely youth defense? Signing experienced mentors for Dahlin and Power? Re-sign Pysyk? Who knows. There is also a draft, but this is in the long term and they are unlikely to be in a hurry if they choose Jiricek/Nemec/Chesley.

 

[GOALOFSSON]

Oh yes, already forgetting Power here.. So it could be a PP battle between Power/Laaksonen, if Laaksonen pans out.

Does Johnson play on PP?

 

[2 others]

Does Johnson play on PP?

I don't know, but my educated guess would be no.

 

[Chainshot]

He looked like money in the bank...on the pp.

He made a few key defensive plays...but on the pp.

5v5...needs work.

He had a couple of very nice plays last night moving the puck. He also had two where I was saying out loud at my laptop "What are you thinking?!?". There is work to do there, Appert and Webber and going to need to grind off those rough spots.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Oskari Laaksonen with 4 assists tonight in Rochester, now 21pts in 29 games, top 5 in the AHL. Another kid climbing the ladder. Worth a look at some point ? Can't be worse than Butcher or Miller

 

[Chainshot]

Oskari Laaksonen with 4 assists tonight in Rochester, now 21pts in 29 games, top 5 in the AHL. Another kid climbing the ladder. Worth a look at some point ? Can't be worse than Butcher or Miller

Careful what you wish for. Laaksonen needs a lot of work in the weight room and to be much better at how he handles the puck in his own zone. I was originally going to say under pressure... but I've seen him make enough completely unforced turnovers to state it differently.

 

[GrierIsGod123]

Careful what you wish for. Laaksonen needs a lot of work in the weight room and to be much better at how he handles the puck in his own zone. I was originally going to say under pressure... but I've seen him make enough completely unforced turnovers to state it differently.

Thanks for this reminder. It's easy to look at his point totals, we all do it to some extent. Byron Bader (NHLe) is completely based around this premise, which he uses to project prospects. I'm sure by his metrics, Laaksonen is a borderline "star" in the making.

Personally, I think he's one where we keep him down in Rochester the rest of this year and do not pencil him into any lineup scenarios for next year. Then, he can be "found money" for this team as early as mid-next season. He clearly has a lot to gain by being in the AHL. Given our goalie situation, bringing him up anytime soon would only hurt his confidence.

 

[member 334057]

Careful what you wish for. Laaksonen needs a lot of work in the weight room and to be much better at how he handles the puck in his own zone. I was originally going to say under pressure... but I've seen him make enough completely unforced turnovers to state it differently.

I think he needs more than the weight room, kid needs to start being force fed or something. Amerks site still lists him as 6'2" 165lbs, That's Ryan Miller size, and Miller looked sickly half the time he was so thin. I think Tyler Ennis is around the same weight also, except he's 5'9" haha.

 

[Chainshot]

I think he needs more than the weight room, kid needs to start being force fed or something. Amerks site still lists him as 6'2" 165lbs, That's Ryan Miller size, and Miller looked sickly half the time he was so thin. I think Tyler Ennis is around the same weight also, except he's 5'9" haha.

He's 35 lbs. heavier than his initially listed draft weight and six inches taller. The lad is a string bean.

 

[Jacob582]

I think he needs more than the weight room, kid needs to start being force fed or something. Amerks site still lists him as 6'2" 165lbs, That's Ryan Miller size, and Miller looked sickly half the time he was so thin. I think Tyler Ennis is around the same weight also, except he's 5'9" haha.

Laaksonen told Marty Biron during training camp that he was up to 185.