How Panthers’ Anton Lundell has grown into a ‘veteran’ at 23

TAMPA Anton Lundell does not know life in the NHL without postseason play.

As a rookie, when he finished sixth in the Calder Memorial Trophy voting, the Panthers reached the second round.

The following year, Paul Maurice took over the team, and Florida reached the Stanley Cup Final.

Last year, Lundells third with the team, the Panthers won their first Stanley Cup.

Although he is just 23 years old, Lundell has more playoff experience under his belt than many veterans get in a career.

In his fourth season, hes trying to help the Panthers lift the cup again.

I just completely forget how young he is, Maurice said.

It kind of hits me in the face: Hes 23.

Hes a veteran.

He drives his own line.

Lundell posted another solid year while running the Panthers third line.

He ended the regular season with 17 goals (the most since his rookie year) and 28 assists, a career-high.

Lundell racked up the most ice time of his career, and he delivered a career-high 110 hits.

Maurice credits the veterans around Lundell, like fellow Finnish center Aleksander Barkov and former linemate Sam Reinhart, for tutoring Lundell.

Now Lundell can learn from new linemate Brad Marchand, who joined the Panthers in March.

We asked him to get into that defensive structure, which I think is Antons core, Maurice said.

I think thats the Barkov idea, but now hes got that dialed in.

Wed like to see something else.

(Marchand is) almost a perfect guy to come in, play hard.

Hes going to drive the intensity of the line.

But theres an offensive component for that line that I dont think that weve had.

The young center has been particularly good in the playoffs.

He has racked up 55 postseason appearances since 2021, notching six goals and 22 assists.

Last year, he dished out 14 playoff assists.

Hes been huge for us, especially last years playoffs, defenseman Gustav Forsling said.

Hes a big part of our group, and when guys are out he really steps up, and hes always been great for us, especially in the playoffs.

Maurice said he thinks Lundell took his biggest jump forward in the 2023 playoffs.

The big inflection point from him was we got into the playoffs two years ago, Maurice said.

And we would get ahead in the games and the other team especially when we were on the road they would run their best line against him.

Over the last four years, Lundell said he has learned that the playoffs are a rollercoaster, and that the key is to stay level-headed.

Its a privilege to be on a good team, Lundell said.

I feel like Ive been lucky to be a part of what were been building so far.

Weve had some success, as well.

Its been very fun.

Were a hungry team.

We dont settle down.

We want to achieve more.

This years playoffs just began, and Lundell played 17:29 and blocked a shot in Tuesdays Game 1 win at Tampa Bay.

He will get better, and he will, as a player, learn personal things that affect him, Maurice said.

How he trains, how he eats, all those things.

Theres not as much for him to learn about the game anymore.

Hes played so many meaningful playoff games..

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