2020 Draft: Lundell hoping to take two-way game to NHL next season

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Anton Lundell has had some memorable moments during his hockey career, but sharing the ice during a game with his 46-year-old father likely is at the top.
Anton plays for HIFK in Liiga, Finland's top professional league, and his father, Jan, has been HIFK goaltending coach since 2012-13.
But when HIFK backup goalie Atte Engren became ill on the morning of Jan. 9, Jan Lundell was forced into action, signing a one-game playing contract.
"It was a really strange day, weird day, but one day I'll never forget," Lundell said.
Anton Lundell joins NHL Draft Class
Then with 1:06 remaining in the third period, HIFK coach Jarno Pikkarainen made a goalie change, sending in Jan Lundell to replace starter Frans Tuohimaa. Jan became the oldest player in Liiga history to play in a game during the 4-1 win against SaiPa.
"We were leading 4-1, and our coach looked at the clock and there was 66 seconds left so he decided to change the goalie and gave the last minute to my dad," Anton said. "It was a special moment. I was on the ice the whole time and I didn't want to get off ... it was so cool.
"When the game ended, I was the first guy there to hug him."
About the only thing that could compete with that moment for Anton would be hearing his name announced at some point during the 2020 NHL Draft. The 18-year-old forward (6-foot-1, 185 pounds) scored 28 points (10 goals, 18 assists) and had 162 shots on goal while averaging 15:49 of ice time in 44 games. He is No. 3 in NHL Central Scouting's final ranking of International skaters.
"Lundell is an intelligent playmaker and an outstanding passer with excellent vision and understanding of the game," NHL Director of European Scouting Goran Stubb said. "Well-balanced skater, hard to knock off his skates. Protects the puck extremely well and outstanding finding a teammate in traffic. Excellent competitor, very focused."

Jan said he saw a big growth in Anton's game from last season, when he scored 19 points (nine goals, 10 assists) and had 106 shots on goal while averaging 14:23 of ice time in 38 games.
"He's gaining more strength, is getting more power, so he's stronger in 1-on-1 situations and in front of the net," Jan said. "He watches a lot of (Florida Panthers forward) Aleksander Barkov and (former NHL forward) Pavel Datsyuk and likes to play both ways while being creative. That's the way he wants to play because he wants the coach to know he can be put on the ice when in need of a goal or protecting a lead."
Anton believes he has a good idea as to what it takes to become an NHL center in today's game.
"You have to earn the ice time and be able to play a good two-way game," he said. "You can't just survive out there. You have to play at both ends and I want to show my example as a leader. I want to play a good two-way game, and at the same time produce offensively."
Ottawa Senators defenseman prospect Lassi Thomson, selected No. 19 in the 2019 NHL Draft, had an opportunity to play with Lundell for Finland at the 2019 World Junior Summer Showcase.
"He's pretty good two-way player and works so hard," Thomson said. "It's easy to play with him. Every time I'm with him on the ice it's easy to find and pass to him, and he's good on face-offs."

Jan Lundell was a goalie for 17 seasons in Europe but said he never pressured his son into playing the position.
"Anton tried (goalie) a couple of times as a junior but he said that it wasn't his thing," Jan said. "He wanted to be a skater. ... He made his own decision."
Lundell was born in Rauma, Finland, when his father was playing for Rauman Lukko in 2001-02. The family moved to Denmark and the Czech Republic to follow Jan's playing career before finally settling in Espoo, Finland, in 2009.
"Hockey was always a big part of his life," Jan said of Anton. "He played soccer, too, until he was 12 and then just focused on hockey."
Most European leagues, including Liiga, had their regular season and playoffs canceled in March due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus. But he said after taking a few weeks off, he was skating and working out in Helsinki with a number of other players, among them Montreal Canadiens forward Joel Armia, Carolina Hurricanes forward Teuvo Teravainen and Panthers forward prospect Henrik Borgstrom.
"It's fun to compete every day against them and just try to improve myself," Lundell said. "I think the differences aren't that big."
Lundell said his goal is to challenge for a roster spot with an NHL team in 2020-21, but he isn't opposed to continuing his development for one more season in Finland.
"The situation is weird (due to coronavirus) so we don't know when the next season is starting," he said. "I could maybe (try for an NHL spot), but I think another good option would be to stay one year with HIFK, be in a bigger role, big ice time, try to be the No. 1 guy on our team and take the next step while trying to improve my game and myself. It's only good options."
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