Lassi Thomson joins HC Lugano’s defense

The second foreign defenseman joining Hockey Club Lugano’s roster for the upcoming season is Finnish player Lassi Thomson.

Born in Tampere on September 24, 2000 (182 cm, 87 kg, right-handed), Thomson signed a two-year contract through 2028.

He developed in Ilves Tampere’s youth system, made his Liiga debut, and was drafted 19th overall in the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft (7th defenseman selected) by the Ottawa Senators. Despite his young age, he already boasts an impressive resume:

41 points in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Kelowna Rockets at age 18,
Gold medal at the U18 World Championship and U20 World Juniors as Finland’s captain,
Five seasons in North America: 30 NHL games (8 assists, Ottawa Senators) and 264 AHL games (38 goals, 82 assists, Belleville Senators).

In the 2024/25 season with Malmö Redhawks, Thomson played 58 games, scoring 20 goals and 13 assists, making him the top-scoring defenseman in the entire Swedish Hockey League (SHL) and his team’s leading scorer.

Janick Steinmann, HC Lugano General Manager:

"Lassi is an offensive D-man who played on the highest level the past years. He was one of the best D-men in the SHL during the 2024/25 season. He is very creative, has great shots and can skate very well. He will help us in the powerplay and driving our game 5on5. He has a lot of natural leadership qualities and is in the best age of his career."