Reading some descriptions of Lundell, there is a lot of similarity between him and Perfetti. Both 2 way centres with very hi HIQ. Both good playmakers and line drivers. Lundell seems more mature to me, more NHL ready. Lundell is bigger, stronger and skates better. Which one turns out better in the end is unknowable at this point.
I would have been quite happy if we had taken Lundell, even more so watching the WJC. If we hadn't gotten PLD I think there is a very good chance Lundell would have won the 2C job in TC next year when Stastny was gone.
That said, I am also very happy to have gotten Perfetti but I don't think we lose with either one.
There weren't that many similarities at the time of the draft. Perfetti was seen as an offensive dynamo that was likely projected by many to be a scoring winger. Lundell was seen as a safe defensive first center with questionable offe sive upside.
Since then Lundell has upped his offensive game and Perfetti has likely shocked a number of scouts with how seamless he has converted to center at the pro level and just how responsible he has been in his end.
In my mind Perfetti has a significantly higher ceiling. He is the more skilled player in pretty much every offensive facet. The fact that he's also an elite play driver and competent defensively given where he is in his physical development is another feather in his cap.
He is an equal skater to Lundell in terms of straight line speed but is more agile and slippery skater with the puck. Where he trails Lundell is in the strength and size department (Two areas where I put little long term stock in)
Lundell obviously could turn out better but the Jets went for high end upside and I will always go for that over a safer .ore ready player.
