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. ==Career statistics==