Laakso Has Finn-ish

The spotlight first shone on Teemu Laakso at the Viking Cup tournament in Camrose during the 2003-2004 holiday season. The explosive Finnish rearguard lit the lamp four times and rose from relative obscurity onto the scouting radar. Laakso's heroics earned him the top defenseman honours.

In April 2004, Laakso qualified himself as a first round candidate for the 2005 NHL Entry draft with a six-point (2-4-6) performance in six games at the Under-18 tournament. Although not blessed with tremendous size, the hybrid blueliner impressed with his physical traits and excellent quarterbacking contributions.

"Teemu Laakso has established himself as the best blueline prospect Finland has had to offer since Joni Pitkanen," says McKeen's scout Mikko Vuori. "The way the puck leaves his stick just screams elite talent."

"I'm a player who manages the physical aspects of the game pretty well and can play with the puck. I play well on powerplays and play tough hockey too," says Laakso who considers himself to be an all-around defenseman.

Laakso has taken on a major role with HIFK juniors as the team's prime puckcarrier, logging major minutes in all situations. Never completely satisfied with his play, Laakso acknowledges that he thrives for more two-way consistency than he has been able to achieve thus far.

"(My play) has varied from good to bad. There have been some inconsistencies in my performance," says the humble, well-spoken Laakso. "At times there were many good games in a row but then there's a few weaker ones as well.

"I would like to still raise the level of my game further. We'll see what that will bring."

Laakso's best offensive weapon may be his heavy point shot. Known as a goal-scoring rearguard, Laakso unleashes a hard, accurate slapshot that has been the staple of his international success so far.

"People always tell me that my shot is good. But I also (pay attention to) playing the puck, especially my outlet passes, " says Laakso. "I think my greatest weakness is skating. I feel that it is still lacking."

"Laakso is a good straightaway skater but still needs to polish his lateral movement and backwards skating," says Vuori. "Quick attackers sometimes exploit him and he winds up using his stick too much, resulting in penalties. He is getting quicker however."

GREAT EXPECTATIONS

The Under-20 World Junior Championships in Grand Forks, North Dakota will be Laakso's greatest international challenge to date.

"There is a difference," comments Laakso on the level of play in Under-20 competition in comparison to the Under-18 games last spring. "The game is faster and a lot more physical."

This year's Finnish squad will be talented but younger than the one from last winter. It will have a tough act to follow as the country has finished in the medals in each of the last four tournaments, though cursed with three consecutive third-place finishes.

"We (the U-20 team) should a very good chance (to win)," says Laakso.

"I like our chances. We have been heading in the right direction in the past games we have played. I expect that it will amount to some success."

Laakso adds that he looks forward to gaining essential experience at the tournament and can't wait to play with the likes of Tuukka Rask and Jesse Joensuu.

"We should have a pretty good class. I haven't played with too many of these guys but I have heard good things. I expect a lot out of this tournament."

NHL ENTRY DRAFT

Laakso is ranked firmly in the first round for the 2005 NHL Draft by McKeen's but he claims that the draft is not on his mind at this time.

"I have not really taken the time to think about it much," says Laakso. "We'll see how it goes. I've talked with people and they say that I'm ranked quite highly, which is good.

"But that's not important for me, at least not right now. It's great to get drafted and even better to get selected high. At this time though I am too concerned with these games and there will be plenty of time to think about the draft after the season."

Laakso has been a under the microscope this season, which is not common in the Finnish junior league. During HIFK's recent match against HPK, at least a half dozen NHL scouts could be spotted hurriedly jotting down notes on the stud rearguard.

Laakso says that the scouts' presence does not faze him.

"This does not worry me, at least it shouldn't. I just try to put them out of my mind and play my game. That's the only way to show what kind of player you are."