LOS ANGELES – Incoming defenseman Sam Laurila was selected with the 138th overall pick in the fifth round by the New York Islanders in the 2025 NHL Draft on Saturday afternoon from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, Calif.
 
Laurila is coming off a big year with the Fargo Force in the USHL, where he finished with 41 points in 57 games and was named a finalist for the league's top defenseman. The Moorhead, Minn., native was just two points shy of pacing the USHL in points per game by a blueliner while also pacing the entire league in ice time (25:19).
 
He is set to join a Fighting Hawks defense group that consists of six returners and fellow incoming rookie Keaton Verhoeff.
 
North Dakota currently has 11 players who are drafted that are set to be on the roster for the 2025-26 campaign, highlighted by a pair of first round selections in EJ Emery (2024, NYR) and Cole Reschny (2025, CGY) as well as projected 2026 first rounder Verhoeff.
 
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