After Nick Caamano, Milano dips into the Vålerenga Oslo well again: American forward Blake McLaughlin arrives, having been the Norwegian club's top scorer in regular season with 46 points in 45 appearances. A dynamic and versatile forward, McLaughlin is a left wing who can also play centre when needed. Technically gifted and with excellent vision of the game, he delivers points and solutions both at even strength and on the power play.
Born in Grand Rapids, Minnesota — a traditional breeding ground for American hockey talent — on February 14, 2000, he stands 180 cm tall and weighs 73 kg, shooting left. In 2018 he was drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in the third round (79th overall).
He first began to make a name for himself in the 2016-17 season, contributing 12 appearances to the Chicago Steel's run in the USHL, which culminated in Clark Cup glory. The following season brought his breakthrough: 59 points in 61 games with the Steel put him on the map at junior level, earning him several call-ups to United States youth national teams and setting him up for a promising four-year NCAA stint. He attended the prestigious University of Minnesota, playing for the Gophers. Over four seasons he recorded 142 games played and 105 points (38 goals, 67 assists), joining the select group of century-point scorers in the program's history, and won the Big Ten Conference title in 2021, posting 4 points in the final against Wisconsin.
After graduating, he signed his entry-level contract with the Ducks. Unable to break into the NHL, he played steadily in the affiliated development leagues, splitting time between the AHL (with the San Diego Gulls and later the Hartford Wolf Pack) and the ECHL (with the Tulsa Oilers and Bloomington Bison): 10 points in 77 AHL appearances, 85 points in 97 ECHL appearances. As a free agent, he chose Europe and delivered his best offensive season to date with Vålerenga (with a brief stop in Italy along the way, at the 2025 Dolomiten Cup): 49 points (22 goals) in 55 games played, playoff included. Now it's Milan, where he will wear number 27.
