It's pretty amazing that Anton Lundell was still on the board for the Florida Panthers' selection.
Scooped up with the 12th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, the 19-year-old center has drawn comparisons to Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov both for his excellent two-way game and great success competing against grown men in Finland's top league, Liiga, at a very young age.
After posting 19 points (nine goals, 10 assists) in 38 games with HIFK in 2018-19, he improved on all of those numbers last season, finishing with 28 points (10 goals, 18 assists) in 44 games.
"It makes you a lot more confident," Panthers general manager Bill Zito said of Lundell's play against grown men. "Obviously when someone at that age is performing that well in that league, and I have a pretty solid familiarity with that league, it makes it a lot easier and gives you a lot more confidence in the player, and it also gives you a lot more context with which to evaluate."
Although he was forced to sit out last year's IIHF U-20 World Junior Championship due to an injury, Lundell has shined during international events in the past. As a 17-year-old at the 2019 World Juniors, he posted one goal and three assists in four contests to help Finland claim gold.
Prior to that, he also took home gold at the 2018 U-18 World Juniors.
"I can create chances for myself and my linemates," Lundell, who is expected to star for Finland at the upcoming 2021 World Juniors. "At the same time, I think I can play a really good two-way game. I want to be a trusted player who the coach can trust on the ice in every situation."
Already in the midst of his third campaign in Liiga, Lundell looks poised to once again reach new career highs in multiple offensive categories. Producing at a point-per-game clip, he's registered 10 points through his first 10 games of the year, including finding the back of the net eight times.
Lundell is also playing major minutes for HIFK, averaging 19:12 of ice time per contest.
"Closer to the season, we'll evaluate and see where he is," Zito said of Lundell's immediate future with Florida. "It's important not to rush it and bring the young players when they're ready. He's [19 years old] playing in a men's league, I know. But you don't want to get too far ahead of yourself, so putting a timetable on him now is a little unfair to him. I don't want to do that. I want to let him play hockey, have fun and continue to develop. When he's ready he'll come."
