Rubuta ci gaba don wannan sakin layi - Laaksonen ya bar Finland zuwa Arewacin Amurka a 1993 a matsayin matashi mai ƙwarewa daga SM-Liiga. Ya yi rajista a Jami'ar Denver inda ya buga wasanni hudu na Pioneers. Laaksonen an zaba shi ne na 191 na Boston Bruins a cikin 1997 NHL Entry Draft
Ka yi haƙuri. A cikin 1997/98, Laaksonen ya fara wasan ƙwararru a Arewacin Amurka, yana wasa tare da Charlotte Checkers na ECHL da kuma Bruins da ke da alaƙa, Providence Bruins.