NHL.com Scouting Report:Mature two-way center with a very good understanding of the game. Playmaker who makes smart decisions in all three zones. Reliable, solid team player who is trusted by coaches.
Final Rank: 3
Age:18 (10/3/01)
Height: 6-1
Weight:185
Birthplace:Espoo, Finland
Shoots: Left
Still a few weeks away from his 19th birthday, Lundell already has a good chunk of experience playing in his country's highest division - the Finnish Elite League. He spent the entire 2019-20 season with HIFK, recording 28 points (10g/18a) in 44 games. Two years ago, in his first foray into the Finnish Elite League, Lundell registered 19 points (9g/10a) in 38 games with HIFK.
Lundell has plenty of international experience, too. He helped Finland win the 2019 World Junior Championship with four points (1g/3a) in seven games, including an assist on Kaapo Kakko's game-winning goal in the gold medal game. Lundell also led Finland to gold at the 2018 Under-18 World Championship where he posted six points (2g/4a) in seven games.
"Anton is a workmanlike two-way player who is a linchpin for productive center-ice play in all zones and all areas of the game. A coach's comfort level increases when he's on the ice. When we look at the scouting report, there's not one particular skill he possesses that's eye catching. But he invests himself in the hard and demanding areas of the games that help teams win. I project him as a middle-six two-way center. I really think he's almost identical in style of play to Montreal Canadiens centerman Phillip Danault." -- TSN's Craig Button
"Lundell was very impressive at the pro level the past two seasons, putting up significant numbers in Liiga as a 17 and 18-year-old. I watched Lundell a ton the past three years, with at least 15 live views and many others on video, and I still struggle with what to make of him. I see a player who has played up versus men at a young age so effectively, who has played years ahead of his age group, sometimes in significant roles such as when he logged nearly 20 minutes in the gold medal game at the world juniors in 2019. When you watch him, though, his game can look bland. His speed is average, and while I see flashes of great creativity from him as a handler and passer, I wouldn't say that's consistent. I respect that he competes well, he's strong on pucks and is responsible defensively with the ability to play on both special teams. I also understand that he plays at the Liiga level so his skill won't pop as easily as someone who plays in the CHL." -- The Athletic's Corey Pronman
"There are some misnomers out there about Lundell's talent level and skating as being major concerns in considering him a top-10 pick. I disagree, to varying degrees, on both of those positions. He doesn't have the dynamic qualities of the forwards listed ahead of him on my board, and he's never going to consistently burn defenders off the rush, but he's a better passer than he normally gets credit for, he's heavier on the cycle than most of his peers, he can play through the middle of the ice and he makes decisions and reads quickly, which is just as important (if not more important) as his actual foot speed. It always feels like Lundell is involved and impacting a game (with and without the puck). Over the course of a game, that drives results. It shouldn't surprise anyone that as a teenager in a top pro league, Lundell had a positive impact on possession, played more than 15 minutes a night or won 53.5 percent of his draws while producing offence consistently." -- The Athletic's Scott Wheeler
