Draft Thoughts (U-18 Edition, Vol.12):
LD Sam Laurila might be another casualty of the NTDP program, playing down the lineup on a very talented team, with little opportunity to show what he can truly do. The 6'0",187lb rearguard posted 3 goals and 11 points in 61 games this season, to go with 36 penalty-minutes, and picked up an assist in 7 games at the U-18 tournament. In May's edition of the USHL's Phase 2 Draft, in which eligible junior-aged players who are not the property of another team get selected, Sioux City used their second-round pick (20th-overall) to select Laurila, 5 spots ahead of highly-regarded NTDP defenseman John Whipple- so it looks like he will get the chance to showcase his skills next season with the Musketeers. An added bonus for any NHL team selecting him is that he is committed to the University of North Dakota, which is known to have a top-notch program. Laurila is one of the youngest players in the draft, with a September 2nd birthday.
Laurila is a smart two-way defender who is skilled enough that he can be paired with some of the more higher-end offensive defensemen, and compliment them well. He is a smooth, fluid skater in all directions with a good first-step, and quick acceleration- he's not elite, but very fast at top speed. Though he's been cast in a more shut-down type of role, he still retains a bit of an offensive mindset, and distributes well from the line to teammates in high-danger, and will pinch in to the play to keep pucks alive, or to make plays in the high slot. He's a skiled passer, but mostly prefers to keep things simple and risk free, as well as short-distance if possible. He flashes high-end playmaking ability though, as his assist in the U-18's was a cross-ice pass while in motion to Max Plante at the opposite face-off circle, through a pair of opposing defenders. He has a hard, heavy bomb of a one-timer from the blueline, and will shoot low to create rebound opportunities for teammates in the slot. Off the puck, he supports the rush well, and skates intelligent routes to be available for passes. Laurila is uncommonly strong, and plays hard and physical, finishing all of his checks.
Though he contributes to the offensive side of the puck, he takes care of his defense first before anything else and always has an eye on his duties in his own end, often being the first player back in the zone. He transitions quickly, and exerts good gap control, closing quickly on attackers with an active stick and his long reach. Laurila is defensively sound, and a steadying presence who identifies his man, sticks to them, and neutralizes their capacity to make a quality play. He covers his net well, keeps the crease clear, blocks shots, and swats away loose pucks. He makes a crisp, accurate first pass, and will use the boards if he gets into trouble, although one of the knocks on him is that he can be pressured into giveaways in performance of this task. Laurila is still a bit raw, but he has big potential, and will get plenty of time to develop his game in the coming years. Look for him in the late rounds.
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