Sabre Noise
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Checking in on the Buffalo Sabres’ prospects currently playing overseas

By Ryan Brennan

MONTREAL, QC - DECEMBER 27: Arttu Ruotsalainen #22 of Team Finland skates during the IIHF World Junior Championship preliminary round game against Team Denmark at the Bell Centre on December 27, 2016 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Team Denmark defeated Team Finland 3-2. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - DECEMBER 27: Arttu Ruotsalainen #22 of Team Finland skates during the IIHF World Junior Championship preliminary round game against Team Denmark at the Bell Centre on December 27, 2016 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Team Denmark defeated Team Finland 3-2. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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VICTORIA , BC – DECEMBER 26: Oskari Laaksonen #2 of Finland versus Sweden at the IIHF World Junior Championships at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre on December 26, 2018 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Light/Getty Images) /

The Buffalo Sabres loaned defenseman Oskari Laaksonen to the Lahden Pelicans after it was announced he wouldn’t return to Ilves.

Oskari Laaksonen was a third-round draft pick of the Buffalo Sabres back in 2017. He’s a 6-foot-2 defenseman and is just 21 years old, meaning he’s got a ton of hockey left to play.

He’s been a Sabres’ prospect since and hasn’t seen any playing time with either the Sabres or Amerks.

That’s not to say he hasn’t been busy. He spent the past three seasons playing for Ilves in the Finnish Liiga, recording a total of 5 goals and 35 assists in 113 games with the team. He also played for Finland’s national team (WJC-20) last season and was part of the team that secured a Gold Medal.

After it was announced he wouldn’t return to Ilves, the Buffalo Sabres were careful in making sure they picked a suitable new home for him — eventually loaning him to the Lahden Pelicans.

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While he doesn’t have any experience on North American ice, the Buffalo Sabres like what they’ve seen from the young defenseman. They signed him to a three-year entry-level contract in the middle of June, just one day before the team let GM Jason Botterill go.

We’re sure to see Laaksonen on the ice for training camp, but it’s unlikely he makes his way to the final roster for Opening Day. Still, it’s good to know he’s in a good spot for now and should be getting some valuable minutes overseas.

It’ll be nice to see him continue to develop and we’ll certainly be keeping an eye on him!

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