Antti Laaksonen

Antti Akseli Laaksonen (born October 3, 1973) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey left winger who last played for the Lukko of the SM-Liiga. Antti had a seven-year NHL career, mostly as a third line wing and penalty killer for the Boston Bruins, Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche.

Playing career
Laaksonen left Finland for North America in 1993 as a junior pro from the SM-Liiga. He enrolled at the University of Denver where he played four seasons for the Pioneers. Laaksonen was selected 191st overall by the Boston Bruins in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft. In 1997–98, Laaksonen made his professional debut in North America, playing with both the Charlotte Checkers of the ECHL and the Bruins affiliate, the Providence Bruins.

Laaksonen made his NHL debut with the Bruins at the start of the 1998–99 season, playing in 11 games before he was sent down to Providence where he helped the Bruins capture the Calder Cup. Unable to become a regular with the Bruins by the end of the 1999–2000 season Laaskonen left the Bruins as a free agent.

On July 14, 2000, Laaksonen signed with the Minnesota Wild for their inaugural season. Antti became a fixture in the Wild offense resulting in four seasons with the Wild.

On July 2, 2004, Laaksonen was signed as a free agent by the Colorado Avalanche to a two-year contract. With the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Laaksonen played his first game with the Avalanche in their season opener for the 2005–06 season. Laaksonen established career highs with the Avalanche, scoring 16 goals and 34 points. On June 28, 2006, the Avalanche exercised their option for the 2006–07 season. During the season, however, a poor run of form led Laaksonen to be demoted to the Avalanche's affiliate, the Albany River Rats of the AHL.

At season's end, Laaksonen left North America and signed with Swiss team HC Fribourg-Gottéron of the NLA on June 18, 2007. After only one season with Gottéron he returned to his native Finland and signed with Lukko of the SM-Liiga. In his second season with Lukko, Laaksonen captained the team in its return to the post-season before retiring and settling in Minnesota, where he enjoyed the majority of his NHL success.