Anton Lundell’s opening season in the NHL was excellent. The second season might be challenging.
Anton Lundell and the Florida Panthers begin training camp on September 21st. AOP / USA TODAY SPORTS
The Finnish NHL team Florida Panthers made a couple of very significant game moves during the off season. The biggest of them was hiring a new head coach.
The “Cats” are now coached by the famous Paul Maurice, who worked for the previous nine seasons in the Winnipeg Jets organization.
Anton Lundell met his new boss the week before.
– A calm guy. He immediately noticed that there is skill in hockey. Maurice raised some sensible points. He was friendly, Lundell tells Iltalehte.
– I had heard a lot of good things about him. I believe that Maurice will be able to help our team in the right direction.
Maurice is said to be the greatest coach to never win a Stanley Cup.
Great player transfer
Forward Matthew Tkachuk moved from the Calgary Flames to the Florida Panthers captained by Aleksander Barkov in the early summer trade. ZUMAWIRE / MVPHOTOS
The Panthers’ second Mega move of the summer was giving up Jonathan Huberdeau. The 29-year-old forward played in South Florida for no less than 10 seasons.
Now the attacker continues his career in Calgary.
The Panthers acquired Matthew Tkachuk, a jagged style of play, from the Flames. In exchange, the Panthers got physicality.
– If someone had said this after the season, I wouldn’t have believed it. It was a big deal. Huberdeau was in our organization for many years. He is a star player.
– Good players moved there. Tkachuk is also good. He brings us the audacity we need.
Second-generation puck player Tkachuk is only 24 years old. Last season, the forward hit 104 power points for the Flames, while Huberdeau’s score was no less than 115.
Join the best
In the first season, 20-year-old Lundell established himself among the world’s best players. Tulokaskus brought 18 goals and 44 power points in 65 matches.
– My game developed as the season progressed. I was able to show that I belong here and that I can play at this level. It wasn’t just about survival.
A quick breakthrough to the NHL was the result of many years of work.
– I’ve always known what I want, I’ve always had a clear goal. I was able to develop in HIFK during three seasons, the last season was a breakthrough in the League and the national team.
– In the league, I felt that I could do anything. In the U20 tournament, I was able to play at a high level under great pressure. And on top of that there was the men’s World Cup. I was under a magnifying glass the whole season and I succeeded, Lundell thinks.
Towards better
Paul Maurice, still wearing his Winnipeg Jets wind suit, is now coaching the Panthers. ZUMAWIRE / MVPHOTOS
Lundell is no longer under pressure regarding an NHL playing spot. The young person gets to enjoy playing and develop himself further.
– The goals of the starting season go together with the goals of the team. I want to win as many games as possible. In addition, I want to help the team win as much as possible. I want to be in a good mood every night.
– Wins, wins. Nothing else helps in this league, says Lundell, who lives in his own apartment in Ft. in the city of Lauderdale.
Panthers training camp started on Wednesday.