7th year defenseman Oliver Lauridsen(7) is skating his second season with Jokerit after putting up some admirable numbers (3-6-9) with a +7 rating in 48 KHL games for the big, mostly stay at home blue liner.
In his first season overseas, he didn’t exactly put up any stats to speak of but was still an overall +12 for Frolunda Indians and helped them win the 2016 SHL title and the Champions Hockey League Championship tourney.
The 28-year old has 16 NHL (2 goals, 1 assist), 264 AHL, 108 NCAA with St. Cloud State University and now 79 in the top Russian league that will likely hit 100 games before the season is done, so he’s had a pretty good ride and when it’s time to wind it down a few years in Metal Ligaen might not even suck.
Oliver Lauridsen (7)
The big Dane d-man Oliver Lauridsen(7) played out the 2013 regular season in the NHL scoring 2 goals and 1 assist in 15 games with a 0 rating on a team that missed the playoffs.
He was given a two-year extension in the offseason but played 63 AHL games without garnering a call-up even though he recorded a season high 10 assists and 11 points; and also got into 9 dust-ups flexing some ruggedness and took his penalty totals up to 167 minutes.
In 2014/2015 he managed to skate in a career high 75 games for new farm team Lehigh Valley Phantoms scoring a new best 4 goals and again threw down the gloves 9 times and had 152 pims but only got into one game with the Flyers as he was past by other blue liners on the big club’s depth chart.
The 26-year old was an unrestricted free agent heading into the new season and heads overseas signing for 2015/2016 with Frolunda Indians of the SHL.
He’ll probably elevate his game to a whole other level.
Oliver Lauridsen (7)
Philadelphia Flyers‘ 7th round pick in the 2009 draft (#196 overall) Danish defenseman Oliver Lauridsen(7) made his NHL debut over the weekend, a 3-1 upset victory over Boston.
The XL 6’6″ 220 lbs. blue liner skated 22 shifts for 17:12 total ice time, had 1 shot on net, 3 hits, 3 blocked shots, 2 giveaways, 2 penalty minutes and was an even plus/minus in what was a very solid, active game for his debut.
In 126 AHL games with affiliate Adirondack Phantoms he has 4 goals, 9 assists and a healthy amount of pims.
At his size, he’s obviously unafraid to drop the mitts.
His 2-year entry level deal expires at the end of the current campaign.
He’s set to become a restricted free agent but it’s almost a no-brainer to re-up for at least another season with the 24-year old European prospect.
With a bit more grit in his game, he could become a diamond-in-the-rough, tough to play against, punishing d-man.