Two years ago, Anton Lundmark was playing in a semi-professional regional league in the third tier of Swedish hockey. This season, at age 23, he made his SHL debut with Timrå IK, where he scored five goals, had four assists and zero (!) penalty minutes in 53 regular-season and playoff games.
And yet, somehow, the Florida Panthers were impressed with what they saw and signed the 6-foot-4, 192-pound winger to a one-year entry-level contract, which will take effect next season. The news left many scratching their heads and asking, “Who?”
The offer even caught Lundmark off guard, according to Finnish media outlet MTV Uutiset.
“I spoke to him (on the day of the announcement), and you could say that he was shocked himself,” said Timrå GM Kimmo Kapanen. “He didn’t really understand what had happened.”
However, Kapanen seemed less surprised and was quick to praise Lundmark.
“He has worked incredibly hard and has earned this opportunity,” Kapanen added. “He has all the necessary tools.”
Oliver Kapanen On Leaving Habs: “It Feels Good To Return” To TimråOn Wednesday, the Montreal Canadiens announced that 21-year-old Finnish center Oliver Kapenen was being loaned to Timrå IK, the SHL club that he signed with in May. Kapanen already went to the Swedish team’s training camp in August and played pre-season games in September before the Canadiens’ camp.
The Panthers are no-doubt impressed by Lundmark’s work ethic and possibly see him eventually using his size to carve out a role as a fourth-line winger. Zero penalty minutes in 53 games for a player in that role is a bit surprising, though.
“Anton is a robust forward who has elevated his game rising through the professional hockey ranks in Sweden,” Florida GM Bill Zito is quoted in the NHL club’s announcement. “We look forward to his continued development in our organization.”
Timrå, which was coached this season by Finnish ex-NHLer Olli Jokinen, finished sixth in the 14-team SHL before being eliminated by Frölunda HC in the quarterfinals.
In addition to Lundmark, the team is expecting to lose its leading scorer, 24-year-old Filip Hållander, to the Pittsburgh Penguins this summer. Oliver Kapanen, the son of the club’s sports manager, played most of the season in Timrå on loan from the Montreal Canadiens and will probably be gone next season as well.
Report: Filip Hallander Headed Back To NHL Next SeasonSwedish center and left winger Filip Hållander is headed back to the NHL next season, according to Swedish media outlet Exprssen.