2020 first round pick off to flying start in Finland

With the 2020-21 Liiga season beginning back in early September, it's given top prospects the opportunity to play at a high level, while other leagues are either shutdown because of the coronavirus, or because it's their off-season. The Florida Panthers used their first round pick to select Anton Lundell from HIFK, and so far this season, he's been on fire. In 13 games, Lundell's put up 13 points (9 G, 4 A), 4 penalty minutes, and is a +4. He currently sits second in goals in Liiga with 9.

Panthers top pick Anton Lundell snipes his 9th goal of the season in his 13th game for HIFK. pic.twitter.com/Ayad1DDOi1— David Dwork (@DavidDwork) November 14, 2020

Lundell, 19, was drafted in the first round, 12th overall by the Florida Panthers in last month's 2020 NHL entry draft. As mentioned, he's currently playing for HIFK in Finland's highest division, Liiga, where he has taken on a bigger role after being named an alternate captain. He's been a part of HIFK's organization since 2015, where he started out on their under-16 program. He's been playing for them in Liiga for the past three seasons.

In 95 regular season games, Lundell has 60 points (28 G, 32 A), 30 penalty minutes, and is a +21. In the playoffs, he hasn't been productive at all, recording no points, 29 penalty minutes, and is a -2 in 12 career playoff games.

Internationally, Lundell has represented Finland on multiple occasions, most recently at the 2019 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships. In 7 games he had 4 points (1 G, 3 A), 0 penalty minutes, and was a +/-0 as the Finns won the gold medal for the first time since 2016. He assisted on Kaapo Kakko's game winning goal with less than two minutes to go in the third period. Lundell was selected to play at the 2020 World Juniors, but unfortunately had to miss out due to injury. He is expected to play a big role for Finland at this year's tournament, and could possible be named captain.

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