DRAFT: Münzenberger draws connections to Edmonton

EDMONTON, AB - Luca Münzenberger is in the early days of his tenure as an Oilers prospect, but the German defender already has a comfortable familiarity with his new NHL organization and the city of Edmonton.
As an up-and-coming German talent in the era of Leon Draisaitl, how can you not?
"Leon just texted me probably 10 minutes ago, and he's a great guy," Münzenberger said via Zoom following his selection. "If you're German and you're a hockey player, you've got to love the Oilers because of him."
"Leon is just a huge star in Germany even though hockey isn't as popular as it is in the U.S. or in Canada. But it's starting to grow, especially because of Leon."
The Oilers dove back into Deutschland to select the 6-foot-2, 194-pound rearguard and former captain of the Kölner Junghaie U-20 side with their 90th-overall selection in the third round of the 2021 NHL Draft on Saturday.

The left shot from Düsseldorf, about a 30-to-40-minute drive north from Cologne, has already made his jump overseas to the University of Vermont where he's committed to play his freshman season this upcoming fall under head coach Todd Woodcroft - brother of Bakersfield Condors bench boss Jay Woodcroft.
"I'm in Vermont right now, so I got here three weeks ago and we've already started practice," he said. "It's been great so far and I love being here. It's my first experience in the U.S. and I love it right now. I'm pretty excited for the season to start."
Münzenberger's standout details lie on the defensive side of the puck, where size, mobility, and a good stick help him stifle opponent's attacks before they start - especially along the boards and in the slot.
The 18-year-old also possesses a booming shot from the blueline and good vision that lend a helping hand on offence when the opportunity arises, comparing his game to another Edmonton asset in defenceman Darnell Nurse.
"I'd probably say that I'm a big defenceman who plays hard in the defensive zone and focuses on the defensive game," said Münzenberger. "If there's a possibility to join the rush, I will do it. I'd compare myself to Darnell Nurse, and I like how he plays. He's a great player. I think he's an all-around great player and I could see myself being in that spot in a couple of years with that focus on the defensive end. If there's a possibility to join the offence, I think that's my style of play."

Münzenberger showed well despite plenty of logistical challenges linked to COVID-19 while representing Germany in the bubble at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship, with an impressive tournament helping boost his draft stock and giving him an introduction to the city he could call home in future seasons to come in an Oilers uniform.
"It was a great experience. I liked it a lot," he said. "We got there, and the problem with our team was that we had a couple of COVID cases, so I think we had eight of our players test positive. That was pretty bad, but the facilities connected to the hotel - that's great. The arena is very nice and I would love to play there.
"It was such a great experience, and I can't imagine how great it would be with fans in there. With the fans, it's going to be a huge experience."