The Buffalo Sabres have announced the signing of two-way defenceman Oskari Laaksonen. The contract is a three-year, entry-level deal, and is rumoured to have a cap hit of $925 000.
In three seasons playing with Ilves of the Finnish SM-Liiga, the Tampere native has produced 40 points in 113 games. In 2019, he recorded two points for the Finnish WJC team that later went on to win the tournament.
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The Buffalo Sabres General Manager, Phil Botteril, was pleased with the signing: "The work Oskari has put in to improve his game has paid off during his last two seasons," he said. "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."
Sabres fans will hope that Laaksonen can bring some calmness to a struggling Buffalo defensive core. The 2017 draft's 89th overall pick will be joining goaltending top prospect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in the organization as one of the hopes for a brighter future in Buffalo.
Source: Buffalo Sabres
