The 2025-26 NHL Season is right here because the Florida Panthers increase their 2025 Stanley Cup Championship banner to the rafters in opposition to the Chicago Blackhawks. Missing from the lineup might be Matthew Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov, placing the highlight on Anton Lundell.
The Panthers had depth down the center with Barkov, Sam Bennett, and Lundell. Nevertheless, even with Bennett getting a brand new eight-year, $64 million contract with an AAV of $8 million, how many individuals have a look at him as a number-one heart? Head coach Paul Maurice is adjusting his lineup accordingly, with Evan Rodrigues, a possible cap casualty, taking part in heart for now. Nevertheless, the idea is that Lundell may see top-line minutes in some unspecified time in the future this season.
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Lundell, who was drafted twelfth total by the Panthers within the 2020 NHL Draft, discovered a task taking part in third-line minutes behind Bennett and Barkov. It took him a while to regulate to the NHL. Don’t neglect that was the COVID draft, so lots of the younger gamers misplaced growth time; nevertheless, there was a perception that he may have performed second-line heart. That’s the reason the Panthers drafted him.
His offensive capability has but to be untapped by the Panthers. Although you noticed glimpses final yr within the playoffs, taking part in alongside Brad Marchand and Eetu Luostarinen. That was the very best line within the playoffs, not just for the Panthers, however your entire league. They mixed for 57 factors (21 targets and 36 assists).
Lundell particularly had 18 factors (six targets and 12 assists) in 23 playoff video games. Whereas some individuals could have a look at the numbers, you noticed a participant who was extra assured with the puck, driving to the online, utilizing his physique extra, and his passing was on level. To not point out Lundell took on a much bigger function within the defensive zone.
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Maurice put him on the market on defensive zone attracts. Lundell performed extra penalty kill minutes as nicely. He’s solely getting higher. Final season, in 79 video games, he recorded 45 factors (17 targets and 28 assists). Lundell was one shy of his file 18 targets he set again within the 2021-22 season as a rookie, however broke his help complete (26) by two and his level complete (44) by one.
So the offensive expertise is there; he simply accepted being a checking heart with the Panthers. But when Sam Bennett had left through free company, it might have been Barkov and Lundell down the center one-two. There was a great likelihood you had already seen his offensive expertise unlocked, however given Barkov’s absence from the lineup for the season, Anton Lundell is a participant to look at.
As Chris Peters said during his draft year of 2020, “Lundell is without doubt one of the most mature, clever gamers on the ice on this class. In any case, he has two skilled seasons underneath his belt already, showcasing high-end imaginative and prescient and playmaking expertise whereas exhibiting a dedication to play defensively.”
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Anton Lundell’s offensive capability is there; that is the yr we are going to see it. At present, Maurice has adjusted your entire lineup of Luostarinen, Lundell, and Marchand in order that he doesn’t disrupt their chemistry. Nevertheless, there may very well be a time this season, as we noticed at instances final yr, when Lundell is on the highest line with Sam Reinhart and Carter Verhaeghe.
Once more, the strains are fluid, however Reinhart has reportedly moved down, according to Daily Faceoff, to play with Lundell as a result of there may be some chemistry between them. The purpose stays that Anton Lundell might be a big issue within the Florida Panthers‘ success this season, regardless of the absence of two key spokes within the wheel to start out the season.
The most effective is but to return from Lundell because the Panthers attempt to hold the three-peat alive.
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