rangersfansince08
Registered User
- Oct 8, 2019
- 5,325
- 4,610
Both are better options than Lias....
I think people tend to forget that Lias was a reach pick at No. 7. He was ranked in the mid-teens that draft. Most wanted Mittelstadt and Brannstrom, I remember really wanting Suzuki there. Besides the point, Lias had that two-way play with HV71, but the offensive upside was limited/questionable. He was always pegged, at most, to be a 2C in the NHL. That is looking very hazed now, but he's still young. Remember, it took Ryan Johansen until he was 22 to really start becoming something. Hell, Michael Dal Colle (who I thought was going to be a star in this league) has just became a bottom-6 player with the Islanders in his 24th birth year. I think Andersson needs to work hard to get there now, but he's still got time.
Lundell is a defensive center and playing in Liiga consistently. That automatically makes him a "safe" pick. But, he's showing this year that he does have offensive instincts and ability to be a game changer. He's at a .60 PPG with HIFK with 6 goals in 20 games. That's really good for an 18 year old in pro hockey. Kakko last season had finished the year at a .84 PPG pace with 22 goals in 45 games. When watching the two play, it's obvious that Kakko is a special player offensively, but Lundell is showing that he can keep up in pro hockey. I think Lundell is a lot better than people make him out to be.
Stutzle is a different player than Lundell. Definitely more of a flashy playmaker. He's doing things in the DEL that most haven't seen since Draisaitl (although he and Draisaitl are, too, different players). He should be getting steam to be a top 5 candidate, especially since some have underwhelmed (most on HF know he had this capability, though). But he's got a bit of a hill to climb to the NHL. For starters, flashy playmakers need to develop a defensive game and speed for the NHL. Sometimes thinking the game that quick doesn't always work. Look at Buchnevich. There are games where he looks like a stellar player.... then there are games where he shoots/passes into players or through their feet. Stutzle has that capability to be something great in the NHL, but it's more likely the case he doesn't pan out to the potential. That's not a knack on him, though. He's electrifying!! But more of a gamble, IMO, than Lundell.
This is to also say that Lundell might not live up to the potential, too. The draft is a gamble. Even some No. 1 overall picks don't pan out. Who knows?
In the end, if the Rangers were selecting and these two were on the board.... I would be happy with either!!
I agree both are better than Lias which is why i said Lias < Mittelstadt < Lundell < stutzle. Lundell is safer but if Stutzle works out we have another superstar to go with Panarin and Kakko.
