He was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the fourth round, 119th overall, of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.
Laavainen played as a youth with Jokerit's U20 team in the Jr. A, prior to his selection to the Blackhawks.
[1] He left the Jokerit organization to remain in Finland and sign a three-year contract with HPK of the Liiga on 28 April 2017.
[2] During the 2018–19 season, Laavainen registered 2 points in 10 games with HPK before he was loaned for two months to fellow Liiga club, Mikkelin Jukurit, on 27 November 2018.
This biographical article relating to a Finnish ice hockey defenceman is a stub.