Zellweger apparently almost impressed enough in camp to earn a nine game trial in his D+2, before returning for that final year of junior.
Luneau broke camp with the Ducks in his D+2 and was never returned back to junior.
While I don't want to decide based entirely on NHL readiness, surely the right shot D who cracked our NHL roster at age 19, should not be too far down our rankings?
I'm a bit stuck with this one. I love Zell but feel like Luneau just deserves to be higher based on merit. But then does the injury scare me just enough to slide Zell ahead?
I'm gonna say Luneau and bank on him returning to full health.
Luneau's staph infection that happened at the WJC-20 to his knee prevented the return to juniors. The purpose for keeping Luneau with the NHL club in his D+2 season was mostly physical development like Carlsson, but more extreme. Luneau shared that he was tired of mostly body building and welcomed playing games on the ice. Luneau shouldn't get dinged for things outside of his control (Verbeek's load mgmt program and staph infection). Neither of them were hockey related injuries.
Luneau showed some flash in those seven NHL games played; which also pushed his ELC to start in 2024-25 season. Limiting Luneau to under 10 NHL games before the WJC-20 in Jan does support that Verbeek was intending on sending Luneau back to juniors after the WJC-20.
As for accolades, both won Defenseman of the Year (DotY) in their respective leagues in their D+1 seasons. We can include Minty winning DotY in his D+1 season too. Luneau's top-end talent is evident. Add onto the fact that Luneau is probably 5 inches taller and 20 lbs heavier than Zellweger, then that's a significant element in favor of Luneau.
Zell: 5'9 and 174 lbs (he's put on more mass since his draft b/c he's swole AF!)
Luneau: 6'2 and 192 lbs
Here's a quote from Cronin on Zellweger on a Jan 24, 2024
the Athletic article:
“There’s some big guys on the ice, and when you’re on a smaller guy — he’s 5-9, he’s obviously in really good shape; he’s a thick kid — he’s at a disadvantage when it comes to size and length,” Cronin said. “People getting sticks around him and getting a step inside of his hands. If you don’t have the additional or the matching length, you’re not going to be able to knock pucks free.
“He’s aware of that. I think the big thing he’s going to have to manage in the NHL is what I call lane management. Getting between the attacker and the net and using his strength and his thickness to take away sticks and bodies.”