Panthers draft Anton Lundell 12th overall
The Florida Panthers took forward Anton Lundell with the 12th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft.
Anton Lundell
Position: Center
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 187 lbs
Age: 19
Club: HIFK Helsinki
Nationality: Finnish
| GP | G | A | P |
|---|---|---|---|
| 44 | 10 | 18 | 28 |
(Stats source: EliteProspects.com)
Lundell entered the draft as the third-ranked European skater, and for good reason. The dynamic two-way talent is highly praised for his attention to detail at both ends of the ice and had success playing against men in the Finnish Elite League over the past two seasons. Lundell also helped Finland capture gold at the 2019 world juniors, contributing one goal and four points.
The biggest knock on Lundell is his skating, but the 6-foot-1 pivot makes up for his lack of high-end speed with his advanced hockey acumen. Considered one of the most complete forwards in the draft, many believe he's ready to make the leap to the NHL next season.
What they're saying
"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," wrote The Athletic's Scott Wheeler.
"He is regarded as one of the best two-way players available in the draft, and he already has experience playing against men in Liiga. He has the size, smarts, and skill set to play in the NHL as soon as next season," NHL.com's Adam Kimelman wrote.