Anton Lander: Swede Caroline

Anton Lander is a rare case of a player who was rushed to the NHL, sent backwards in his career trajectory only to have it pay huge dividends later on in his career.

Now at age 24, Anton Lander is ready to break out in a big way both offensively and defensively to become a crucial and complete NHL player. What many tend to forget in analyzing Lander, is that he may play one of the biggest roles on this club when they are competing for Stanley Cups. He could also have a letter on his jersey at that time.

WHERE IT BEGAN (OOO OOOO OOOO)

Anton Länder was selected with the 40th overall pick in the 2009 Draft. The Oilers had already selected Lander’s Timra IK teammate Magnus Paajarvi with their first selection 30 picks earlier.

Länder was described as a solid two-way centre with essential leadership skills, and was labeled “future-captain material” by many scouts.

Lander would play two more full seasons with Timra IK in the Swedish Elite League before signing his professional contract to cross the pond for the 2011-12 NHL season.

The Swede improved in every statistic in his seasons with Timra, topping out with 11 goals and 15 assists for 26 points in 49 games.

I CAN’T BEGIN TO KNOWIN’

After an impressive training camp under the newly-led Tom Renney, Lander found himself earning an NHL job, starting as the fourth-line centre. Not many expected Lander to make the NHL club, but with a management regime selling hope, the more young blood the better.

While i’m not sure exactly who decided it was the right call to throw Lander to the wolves, one has to believe it had more to do with Kevin Lowe and Steve Tambellini than it did veteran NHL coach Tom Renney.

Lander only produced two goals and four assists in 56 games before being sent down to the Oklahoma City Barons, after having totally lost confidence in his abilities to produce offence. It was then that Lander first began playing under Todd Nelson, and it was the start of Lander developing into a useful NHL player.

Lander began his second pro season as a forgotten man due to the NHL lockout, which saw Oiler star players Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and the hyped Justin Schultz begin the season in OKC. Lander would improve after the lockout ended, but he would only produce a single assist in 11 NHL games that year.

Now under the Dallas Eakins regime, it was expected that Anton Lander would have a clean slate, and he would have a real possibility to earn back his NHL job. Lander found himself heading back to OKC, where coach Todd Nelson began to tap into Lander’s potential and saw him score an astounding 18-34-52 in 46 games. Lander was also named captain of the Barons at the ripe ol’ age of 22, proving his leadership skills were vital. Once again however, Lander found himself blanked in the NHL, scoring only one assist in 17 games.

Lander entered the 2014-15 NHL season without waiver exemption, and lost his job in camp to Will Acton and Mark Arcobello. Lander was put on waivers by Dallas Eakins, and even though his scoring in the AHL was in the upper-echelon, none of the 29 other NHL GM’s thought Lander was worth a roster spot.

Time went on and Lander continued to shine in the minors, leading to a call-up to the big club that was struggling mightily again under Dallas Eakins. Dallas Eakins was then fired, and the wheels started to turn in favour of the young Swede.

BUT THEN I KNOW IT’S GOING STRONG

Todd Nelson was finally given his shot with an NHL roster, and while he couldn’t completely turn the fortunes of the Oiler’s franchise, he did an admirable job considering the circumstances and that includes showcasing a player who knew better than anyone; Anton Lander.

Lander finished the season strong, getting time on the power-play, penalty kill and some time in the top-six, even playing on a line with Taylor Hall. Lander began to show some of the scoring potential he boasted in the American Hockey League, finishing the season with six goals, 14 assists and 20 points in only 38 NHL games. (Pro-rating to a 43-point season over 82 games).

Lander has scored five goals in the pre-season, mostly garbage goals, but still he is scoring. It looks like Lander will play on a line with Nail Yakupov and one of Teddy Purcell, Leon Draisaitl or Anton Slepyshev barring a trade, and it’s likely the group sees soft competition at even strength. It bodes well for Lander who could actually breakout in a big way, and a more unexpected way.

OKAY TRIN, ENOUGH WITH THE NEIL DIAMOND TITLES

Fine, fine, fine, but you gotta admit, I put that catchy song in your head!

Back to King Anton.

A BOLD PREDICTION

I’m going out on a limb here and I say that Anton Lander scores 48 points. I think he’s set for a 22-goal-season and he’ll pickup 26 assists with a healthy season playing the third line centre role.

Länder will see time on the power play, penalty kill, even strength, overtime etc etc. He has shown he can be trusted at both sides of the ice, he’s a proven leader, he comes under the radar, he isn’t afraid to go to the hard areas, and he’s going to be a winner.

Think about the last few cup-winning teams. They all had that solid third-line centre that could move up and down the lineup, lead by example, score timely goals, etc. etc.

Allow me to make a little table…

YEAR / Champion / 3rd line centre

2009/Pittsburgh Penguins/Jordan Staal
2010/Chicago Blackhawks/ Dave Bolland
2011/ Boston Bruins / Rich Peverley
2012/ L.A. Kings / Jarret Stoll
2013/ Chicago Blackhawks / Andrew Shaw
2014/ L.A. Kings / Mike Richards
2015/ Chicago Blackhawks / Andrew Shaw

Is it to hard to believe that Lander could be our answer to the names on that list? I don’t think it is. Lander is a very close comparable to Jordan Staal and Andrew Shaw, and while Staal hasn’t produced at the rate he is capable of, I still think he’s a valuable player.

It’s important for NHL teams to find talent in the draft after the first round, and while it took longer than many expected, the 2009 2nd draft pick is starting to pay off by turning into a valuable player.

The star from Sweden has Landered….