Samu Alalauri (D, R, 6’2″, 203, Pelicans U20, 05/31/2008, UMass Amherst) Samu Alalauri is a 6’2′, 203 lb right-shot defenseman who checks a number of NHL projection boxes with his size, mobility, composure, and two-way usage, and his current season supports the trajectory of a defender trending toward being a legitimate prospect. Logging heavy minutes (22:11 TOI/game) in all situations (3:04 PPT, 1:53 SHT), he is clearly trusted as a top-pair defender, and his production (6-19-25 in 40 U20 games, plus 15 points in 12 U18 international games) shows a notable offensive progression. His puck movement remains a defining strength. He shows poise under pressure and the ability to move pucks efficiently through the middle of the ice. Defensively, he continues to create a consistent identity: strong gap control, willingness to engage physically, and effectiveness in transition, supported by a 53% puck battle win rate and a very high 8.0 takeaways per game which shows his strong stick, puck anticipation and disruption ability. He also contributes offensively with 3.9 shot attempts/game and consistent involvement in offensive zone play, showing improved confidence when activating and supporting the attack as the second wave of the attack. That said, there are still areas that will determine his NHL outcome. There a re times when he overhandles the puck or forces plays into coverage when under pressure, and while he has a physical element, he can still be more assertive and consistently impose himself given his frame. His offensive tools project more as support offense rather than primary creation, and his game will need to remain detail-driven rather than relying on skill to carry him. Overall, Alalauri projects as a potential NHL defenseman if his decision-making continues to tighten and he leans fully into a reliable two-way, minutes-eating role; his combination of size, skating base, composure, and growing offensive confidence gives him a legitimate path to becoming a second-pair NHL defenseman who can contribute on both special teams, making him a player with a higher floor than most in his range.