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Buffalo Sabres: Can Oskari Laaksonen make the main roster?

By Sion Fawkes

VANCOUVER, BC - JANUARY 5: Oskari Laaksonen #2 of Finland skates with the puck in Gold Medal hockey action of the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship against the United States on January, 5, 2019 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BC - JANUARY 5: Oskari Laaksonen #2 of Finland skates with the puck in Gold Medal hockey action of the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship against the United States on January, 5, 2019 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images) /
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Buffalo Sabres prospect Oskari Laaksonen has impressed on defense during his time in Rochester and he could earn a spot on the opening day roster. 

The Buffalo Sabres have a good problem at defenseman: They have a solid rotation of at least five young players, six if they re-sign Jacob Bryson. Oskari Laaksonen is another one the Sabres will strongly consider.

Signed through 2022-23, he enjoyed a decent year in Rochester, with 34 points in 71 regular season contests. Laaksonen also drew the Sabres attention around mid-season, when he became a member of the taxi squad when injuries hit the team hard.

Can Oskari Laaksonen make the main roster?

Laaksonen will turn 23 when the new season begins, and he has the potential to make the jump from the AHL to the NHL level. However, this may not be such an easy endeavor.

We already know Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power, and Mattias Samuelsson are permanent fixtures on the first and second pairings. We also know Henri Jokiharju and Casey Fitzgerald are full-time skaters on, at worst, the third pairing. With Jokiharju possibly teaming with Power on the second pairing.

However, if Jokiharju ends up on the third, it means the Sabres signed an accomplished veteran to pair with Power. There is also the possibility the Sabres re-sign Jacob Bryson, who would be the seventh man in the rotation if they also sign a veteran. This scenario would relegate Laaksonen to eighth in the rotation at best.

Odds are, Laaksonen starts the season at the AHL level. But if injuries occur at any point, look for him to see some NHL action.

Like Dahlin and Power, Laaksonen would bring a two-way game to Buffalo. And like Jokiharju, he won’t bring a massive level of physicality, relying instead on his quickness to disrupt plays.

light. Related Story. Who are the Sabres fastest-rising prospects?

Nothing about his game jumps out in the same way as Dahlin’s, Power’s, or Samuelsson’s. So if Laaksonen were to make the jump this season, look for him to find his place on the third pairing in a rotational role.

(Statistics provided by Hockey DB)

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