Eetu Laurikainen

Hometown:

Jyvaskyla Finland

Team:

Edmonton Oilers

Currently Playing In:

Pro

Birthday:

1993-03-01
Position:

G

Eligible for draft:

2011
Catches:

Left
Drafted:
Height:

6-0
Acquired:

Signed as free agent, 2015.
Weight:

185 lbs.
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History

2009-10: Eetu Laurikainen made his debut at the U20 level in Finland during the relegation playoffs, posting a 3.09 goals against and .867 save percentage in four games for JyP Jyvaskyla. He played four games for the JyP U18 Division 1 team and played one game for the JyP City (second) team.

2010-11: Laurikainen appeared in six regular season games and two playoff contests with the JyP Jyvaskyla U20 team as a backup to Edmonton 2011 3rd-round selection Samu Perhonen. He shared the goaltending duties for the JyP U18 team with Antti Lehtonen. Laurikainen had a 3.24 goals against and .913 save percentage during the regular season and a 1.00 goals against and .960 save percentage in the playoffs for the JyP U 20 team that captured an A juniors championship. In 11 regular season games for the JyP U18 team Laurikainen had a 4.04 goals against and .898 save percentage.

2011-12: Laurikainen made his pro hockey debut in Finland —  playing six games with JyP-Akatemia in Mestis — and handled the bulk of the goaltending for the JyP Jyvaskyla U20 team. He had a 3.13 goals against and .919 save percentage in six Mestis games and had a 3.15 goals against and .915 save percentage with 1 shutout in 26 games for the JyP U20 team. Laurikainen was selected by Swift Current in the first round (20th overall) in the 2012 CHL Import Draft.

2012-13: Laurikainen played in 60 of 72 regular season games for Swift Current in his first season in North America. He was 30-23-6 with 1 shutout and had a 2.40 goals against and .922 save percentage. The Broncos finished third in the East Division, falling to the Calgary Hitmen in a first-round playoff series. Laurikainen was 1-4 with a 2.89 goals against and .906 save percentage in five playoff games.

2013-14: Laurikainen returned to Swift Current for an overage season — appearing in 54 regular season games with the Broncos in his second WHL season. He was 25-20-6 with 4 shutouts and had a 2.90 goals against and .914 save percentage during the regular season. The Broncos finished second to Regina in the East Division and lost to Medicine Hat in a first-round playoff series. Laurikainen was 2-4 in six playoff games and had a 2.17 goals against and .941 save percentage.

2014-15: Laurikainen appeared in 37 games for Espoo Blues as a rookie in Finland’s Liiga. He was 17-10-9 with 4 shutouts and had a 2.10 goals against and .933 save percentage. Espoo finished fifth in the regular season and was swept by JyP Jyvaskyla in the playoff quarterfinals. Laurikainen started all four playoff games and had a 3.32 goals against and .896 save percentage. He signed a two-year entry-level contract with Edmonton in May 2015.

Talent Analysis

Laurikainen is a durable, hard-working goaltender who has handled heavy workloads — both in the WHL and in Finland. Not as tall (6'0") as some of the younger goaltending prospects he uses his positioning and angle play to prevent scoring chances. He has a sound technical game and competes against second and third opportunities.

Future

Laurikainen attended his first training camp with the Oilers, beginning the 2015-16 season with AHL affiliate Bakersfield. Loaned to HPK Hameenlina in Finland in November, he returned to the Condors when Ben Scrivens was traded to Montreal. In the first year of a two-year contract, he is a depth goalie in the Oilers system at this point but could push for the backup role in Edmonton in the future. As with most 23-year-old goalies his ceiling in terms of potential is uncertain.

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