Julian Lutz

December 2023- For a second year in a row, Lutz will play for Germany at the WJC. After two assists in five games last year, Lutz will have a bigger offensive role as a 19-year-old. He currently has 10 goals and 23 points in 19 games with Green Bay of the USHL. Keith Duggan

October 2023- After attending Coyotes rookie camp, Lutz surprised many by not returning to the DEL and instead was assigned to Green Bay of the USHL. He opened his season with Munich and was on the active roster for one game in the Champions Hockey League tournament but did not play a shift. Lutz was eligible to play in the USHL because he has not signed an NHL contract. After playing the last two years in Germany’s top league, Lutz will now get to familiarize himself with the North American style game, while also getting significantly more ice time than he received as a younger player in the German pro ranks. Keith Duggan

June 2023- A back injury cost Lutz most of his draft year, kept him from training for most much of his layoff, and has resulted in a slower-than-hoped-for return to the ice in the DEL. Despite his team winning the DEL championship, Lutz had just one goal and eight points in 24 games for EHC Munchen. He also had two assists in five games for Germany at the 2023 WJC. An excellent skater with pro size and a strong skill set, there’s a lot that’s projectable about his game. It’s just about getting healthy and building confidence again. Keith Duggan

December 2022 – Lutz will suit up for Germany at the 2023 WJC. After missing a good number of games last year due to injury, Lutz has gotten off to a slow start offensively this campaign. In 13 contests with Munich EHC, he’s recorded six assists. Playing against his peers in the WJC, instead of older competition could help him get going again. Keith Duggan

July 2022 – The Arizona Coyotes have selected Lutz in the second round of the 2022 NHL Draft, 43rd overall. Nick Richard

May 2022 – Lutz missed a lot of time this past season due to injury but managed to add a goal and an assist to his tally in 14 games played with EHC München in the German elite league. He also made a four-game appearance at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, scoring two goals and two assists.

A high motor and great skating foundations define Lutz’s game. He does a great job of hunting down puck-carriers and disrupting their attempts to skate the puck towards the offensive zone, while also being able to take his foot off the gas when the situation warrants it. He battles hard in front of the net, makes his stick available for deflections and rebounds, and is adept at gaining body positioning on his opponents. The main issue with Lutz is just a lack of pop in his game — his shot is OK, his passing is average, and his stickhandling is just good, but none of his puck skills stand out as remarkable tools that can be developed into above-average assets at the NHL level. I see Lutz as a versatile forward who can chip in defensively and pile up the occasional point, while manning a third line and a second power-play unit. Hadi Kalakeche