Anton Lundell ‘one step closer’ to NHL with Florida Panthers

Anton Lundell could have been part of the Florida Panthers this past season but the team had no desire to rush his development especially with the uncertainty of what exactly a Covid-19 NHL season was going to look like.

Drafted 12th overall by the Panthers back in October, Lundell stayed in Finland playing for his hometown HIFK team and did everything the Panthers could have hoped.

Not only did he lead HIFK with 16 goals despite playing in just 26 games, he was one of Finland’s best players not only at World Juniors, but at the World Championships as well.

Lundell’s HIFK team lost in the Liiga semifinals but ended up taking Bronze by beating Sasha Barkov’s Tappara squad 7-1. Lundell had two assists in that game, including one on a goal by former Florida center Henrik Borgstrom.

It was, Lundell said Wednesday, a season he said he will always remember.