The mature play of Florida’s Anton Lundell has been incensed in the NHL finals. Florida’s head coach and star player open up about Lundell’s growth.
NHL’s Fifth final game Vegas Golden Knights – Florida Panthers live on TV2 and Areena on Wednesday, June 14 at 3:00. The championship is on hold for Vegas.
Florida head coach Paul Maurice and Eric Staal know something about NHL hockey. Maurice, who started as an assistant coach for the Hartford Whalers in the fall of 1995, has coached five different teams as a head coach in the NHL for 25 seasons and was in the playoffs once before (2002) before this spring.
Eric Staal, 38, on the other hand, is the most experienced player on his team. The Canadian center has played 1,365 regular season and 103 playoff games in the Taala League. Staal won the Stanley Cup with Carolina in the summer of 2006 and was about to lose the playoff series with Montreal in the summer of 2021.
When the experienced duo opens their verbal casket about the 21-year-old Finnish sensation from Florida From Anton Lundellthe responsibility is transferred to the listener.
In fact, Lundell was talked about during Florida’s half-day practice in Las Vegas on Monday.
The young Finn’s mature moves have been widely noted as the series progresses. And it’s not just about the three (1+2) power points that Lundell hit in the final series, but above all about overall maturity.
Maurice sees huge growth in Lundell within the season.
– Earlier in the season, we applied for changes by transferring him and by Sam Reinhart Alexander Barkov next to We liked it, but even then he was looking for a big player next to him. He relied more on Barkov than playing the game, Maurice began.
– In the most recent final, there was not a bit of that in his playing. He’s carrying himself now, Maurice continued, describing the growth.
Next to Barkov, Lundell has played on the wing, but by training he is a center forward. This only underlines the extraordinary way the attacker from Helsinki has risen to the forefront.
Playing against the top centers of Boston, Toronto, Carolina and Vegas in the playoffs from shift to shift is tough even for the more experienced Savotta.
During Lundell’s tenure, Florida has won five games against five in the spring, 10–7.
– Next year, he will already lead his own chain and will be able to play with it against the best in the league. It was already seen in the Toronto and Carolina series when his chain was one of two chains I played at the end when we were protecting the lead. At the age of 21, he is solving matches and series of matches.
“Activating force”
The regular season was not easy for Lundell after a sensational rookie season, but during the spring, the HIFK-bred has taken huge steps. This reflects the player’s mental capacity.
– He has developed during the season by really big leaps and especially in the spring he has done so. His grappling, positioning and physicality are things that have progressed. In the playoffs, small things matter a lot and he has really learned quickly, Eric Staal stated.
– He’s much more physical now and uses his body better, and that doesn’t mean he’s running around. Europeans usually take a while to learn the ways of a small rink, but he has learned a lot and quickly.
When Florida looks for a must-win in Vegas early on Wednesday to give itself another chance, Lundell, despite his low age, is very much a guard. It is no exaggeration to say that he is already almost irreplaceable for his own team.
Especially now, with injuries aside Eetu Luostarinen and maybe also Matthew Tkachuk.
– He is the driving force for us, Maurice said.
– He will be a really important player for us tomorrow, but at the same time he also has a wonderful future ahead of him, Staal continued.