Daniel Laatsch
Defense · BUF · ECHL

Daniel Laatsch

Age
24
Height
6'5"
Weight
193 lb
Shoots
L
Drafted
2021, round 7, 215th overall
Born
USA
2025-26
ECHL · Wheeling Nailers
Games
29
Goals
3
Assists
8
Points
11

His NHL ratings and game log →

Prospect score · 2026-27
Long shot

1144th of 1,160 prospects in the NHLnew

35th in the BUF system · 13th among its defensemen

+0.6WAR a season if he sticks
Outlook
NHL odds<1%Becomes a full-time NHL player — 200 games by 26
Impact odds<1%Better than the typical NHL regular among defensemen
Arrival—Too unlikely to stick for an arrival year to mean much
WAR a season if he sticks+0.0+0.6+1.4Low, middle and high outcomes among his comparables who became regulars

Of the 10 players most like him at the same point in their development, 0 became full-time NHL players.

Development

His scoring, converted to an NHL equivalent, against every player his age and position that season. Zero is the average player his age; the band is where his comparables were at each age.

-2-10+11617181920212223Age2018-19, age 16, 70 GP: -1.05 vs. his age group (0.02 NHL-equivalent points per game)2019-20, age 17, 55 GP: -0.71 vs. his age group (0.04 NHL-equivalent points per game)2020-21, age 18, 51 GP: -0.45 vs. his age group (0.07 NHL-equivalent points per game)2021-22, age 19, 28 GP: -1.04 vs. his age group (0.03 NHL-equivalent points per game)2022-23, age 20, 36 GP: -0.86 vs. his age group (0.05 NHL-equivalent points per game)2023-24, age 21, 40 GP: -0.72 vs. his age group (0.07 NHL-equivalent points per game)2024-25, age 22, 22 GP: -0.85 vs. his age group (0.06 NHL-equivalent points per game)2025-26, age 23, 39 GP: -0.67 vs. his age group (0.09 NHL-equivalent points per game)
HimMiddle half of his comps at that ageAverage player his age
Comparables

Past prospects at the same position and the same stage after their draft, matched on draft slot, age, size and league-adjusted production. What they became is already known. The outcome is judged at 26: 200 NHL games by then makes a regular.

#PlayerMatchNHL GP by 26Career NHL GPOutcomeWAR a season
1Mike Bergin2008 · #209 · at 2455%00Did not stick—
2Philip Nyberg2016 · #129 · at 2451%00Did not stick—
3Brendan De Jong2017 · #166 · at 2449%00Did not stick—
4Croix Evingson2017 · #211 · at 2449%00Did not stick—
5Sergei Boikov2015 · #161 · at 2448%00Did not stick—
6Trenton Bourque2017 · #175 · at 2447%00Did not stick—
7Joni Tuulola2015 · #181 · at 2446%00Did not stick—
8Aaron Harstad2011 · #187 · at 2446%00Did not stick—
9Anton Blomqvist2009 · #167 · at 2446%00Did not stick—
10Paul LaDue2012 · #181 · at 2446%6770Did not stick—
Season by season
SeasonGPGAPtsPIM
2025-26ECHL · Wheeling Nailers2938116
2025-26AHL · Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins100332
2024-25NCAA · Univ. of Wisconsin222352
2023-24NCAA · Univ. of Wisconsin4029116
2022-23NCAA · Univ. of Wisconsin361676
2021-22NCAA · Univ. of Wisconsin281234
2020-21USHL · Sioux City Musketeers512171918
2019-20USHL · USNTDP Juniors151342
2019-20NTDP · U.S. National U18 Team402684
2018-19WHC-17 · USA U1750002
2018-19USHL · USNTDP Juniors260112
2018-19NTDP · U.S. National U17 Team442466
2017-18USHS-WI · Notre Dame Academy24615210
2017-18USA-S15 · Team Gold30110
2016-17USHS-WI · Regis/Altoona/McDonell High21810184
2011-12Brick Invitational · Team Minnesota60110

The prospect score is a percentile of his expected outcome among every prospect in the league: the chance he becomes a regular, times how good his comparables who did became against others at their position. A player who never sticks counts as zero, which is why a long shot with a high ceiling can rank below a safe bet. All Sabres prospects · How the rankings work