Anton Lundell visited the Sijoituskästi podcast just one day before returning to North America
Anton Lundell’s primary objective as a young player was always to follow in his father's footsteps by playing for IFK and competing in the Finnish Liiga. At the time, the NHL was merely a distant dream that only began to materialize during his participation in the World Junior Championships. Competing against elite talents like Jack Hughes while skating alongside line-mates like Kaapo Kakko, Lundell played against older competition and helped lead Finland to a World Junior gold medal.
His progression from a 14-year-old prospect to an NHL regular happened remarkably fast. Owing to a late-year birthdate, he was drafted in 2020 in the first round (12th overall) alongside players from the following birth year. From an early age, Lundell recognized that he could hold his own against higher-level competition, which steadily cultivated his development into a highly competitive NHL player. Notably, he reached the NHL without ever having to play a single AHL game.
A foundational element of his success has been a disciplined lifestyle focused on prioritizing sleep, clean eating, high-quality training, and stretching before bed—habits heavily influenced and guided by his father. This structured approach became the core framework of his overall lifestyle, fully supported by a family that provided backing both on and off the ice.
During the NHL Draft process, which took place via Zoom at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lundell faced several unconventional interview questions, such as "If you could be any animal, what would you be?" (he answered a lion) or "If you found 20 euros on the street, would you pick it up?" Florida Panthers entered the picture as an interested team later in the process following a change in their general management.
Draft night was spent with a small group at the IFK arena restaurant in Helsinki, following one of his games, as the event started at 3:00 AM local time. Returning to practice the next day, the congratulations from his teammates elevated his motivation even further, instilling a desire to prove to Florida that they had made the right selection.
Transitioning directly from his family home to Florida, Lundell navigated his initial months in the United States independently. He spent his early weeks staying in a hotel and driving a 7-passenger vehicle containing all his possessions. Soon after, he moved in with Panthers captain Sasha Barkov for a couple of months to adjust to local life, including basic routines like grocery shopping. Viewing Barkov as the best player in the world, Lundell integrated Barkov's habits and professional example into his own daily routine.
Lundell made his NHL debut under Head Coach Joel Quenneville against the Pittsburgh Penguins, complete with the traditional rookie solo lap. Although a puck got caught under his skate during the lap, he managed to stay on his feet. His first NHL goal arrived in his third game against the Tampa Bay Lightning following a pass sequence with Sam Reinhart.
As he established himself in the league, Head Coach Paul Maurice encouraged him to adopt a more physical style of play. While this adjustment presented challenges during his second NHL season compared to European ice hockey, fully embracing the shift unlocked his strengths and elevated his game, for which Lundell remains grateful.
To manage pressure and nervousness, Lundell focuses on turning expectations into internal motivation by playing disciplined defense and executing the team system. Building confidence through simple plays, he aims low on shots to beat large NHL goaltenders who effectively cover the top corners—an insight influenced by his father, a former goaltender and current goaltending coach.
When it comes to equipment, Lundell remains straightforward. He uses 80-flex CCM sticks with a rounded shaft, lasting 2 to 4 games (sometimes up to 5) until they lose stiffness or break. By comparison, he recalls former teammate Joe Thornton using a 120-flex stick with a completely straight blade. Lundell keeps two spare pairs of sharpened blades with the equipment trainer during games, though he rarely overthinks skate maintenance. He sticks to a single pair of gloves during games and uses off-the-shelf retail equipment without heavy customization. Despite the relaxed NHL dress code, Lundell continues to view game days as special occasions, preferring sharp suits alongside occasional bolder fashion choices.
With his entry-level contract and subsequent regular salary—supplemented by signing bonuses—Lundell partnered with Finnish financial advisory firm Obsido Group to manage his investments. Signed to a 6-year, $5 million AAV contract paid out twice a month across six months, he invests the majority of his earnings, including a small allocation in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and XRB, while avoiding heavy spending habits.
A notable team tradition involves players putting financial stakes on specific games into a collective team pool to win. While the baseline contribution is €500, higher amounts are posted for various reasons, such as playing against a former team. Lundell’s largest personal contribution occurred around the #NHLGlobalSeries event following his contract signing, when he hosted a team lunch at Bistro in Helsinki, personally selecting the menu to keep costs within reason.
A standard NHL game day requires significant energy management, with Lundell burning approximately 2,000 calories per game and up to 3,000 calories across a full game day. Daily routines are structured around team facilities and recovery. His morning consists of breakfast at the arena, warm-up, a short 10–15 minute team skate, optional individual ice time, followed by lunch at the facility. In the afternoon, he takes a 45-minute nap at home before returning to the arena three hours prior to a 7:00 PM puck drop. After games, he relies on recovery routines involving saunas and cold tubs, which are built into both Florida’s main arena and training facility.
During the previous season, an injury to Aleksander Barkov required Lundell to step up as the top-line center against opponent matchup lines. Playing against top international talent every night confirmed that he could hold his own and generate offense at an elite level.
Lundell's first Stanley Cup victory in 2024 involved an intense seven-game series against the Edmonton Oilers. After Florida took a 3-0 series lead, Edmonton rallied to force a Game 7. The atmosphere in Edmonton was exceptionally hostile, with passionate fans surrounding team buses and directing chants at players' families. To navigate the stress of media coverage during the finals, Lundell turned off his phone completely.
Florida ultimately secured the Stanley Cup on home ice in Game 7, as was also the case for their second consecutive championship. Post-game celebrations inside the locker room with family and teammates stood out as highlights, followed by championship parades—the second of which drew over 500,000 attendees. During the post-parade gatherings at the practice facility restaurant, line-mate Eetu Luostarinen slipped while dancing and hit his head, but returned to celebrate after receiving stitches. Behind his humble personality, Lundell maintains a competitive edge and physical intensity on the ice, drawing inspiration from playing alongside physical teammates like Brad Marchand and Eetu Luostarinen.
Reflecting on his journey, Lundell acknowledges that while the NHL schedule is demanding—often offering only one day off per week alongside constant travel—the amenities, such as private charter flights, allow players to focus strictly on performance. Representing the Finnish national team remains a point of pride, and he intends to suit up for Leijonat whenever called upon. Following a summer spent at his cottage, fishing, playing tennis, padel, and golf, and completing a strong off-season training regimen, Lundell returns to North America with strong confidence for the upcoming season.
