Julian Lutz

Last updated

Julian Lutz
Julian Lutz (250409-F-DX569-1942) (cropped).jpg
Lutz in 2025
Born (2004-02-29) 29 February 2004 (age 21)
Weingarten, Germany
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 194 lb (88 kg; 13 st 12 lb)
Position Winger
Shoots Left
NHL team (P)
Cur. team
Former teams
Utah Mammoth
Tucson Roadrunners  (AHL)
EC Red Bull Salzburg
EHC Red Bull München
NHL draft 43th overall, 2022
Arizona Coyotes
Playing career 2020present

Julian Lutz (born 29 February 2004) is a German professional ice hockey winger currently playing for the Tucson Roadrunners in the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect to the Utah Mammoth of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted 43rd overall by the Arizona Coyotes in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.

Contents

Playing career

Lutz grew up in the small town of Weingarten near Ravensburg, where hockey is the most popular sport. He was influenced heavily by his parents who both played the game. [1] He began his youth career with local club EV Ravensburg. At age twelve, he joined the Red Bull Academy in Austria. Lutz made his professional debut in the ICE Hockey League during the 2020-21 season with EC Red Bull Salzburg. The following season, he made his debut in the DEL with EHC Red Bull München at age eighteen. [2] He was linked with a move to North America by at least 2021 as he was selected by the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds with the 89th pick in the 2021 Canadian Hockey League Import Draft. [3] [4]

Lutz was drafted 43rd overall in the second round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft by the Arizona Coyotes. He then spent an additional season developing with Red Bull München. That season, the club won the Deutsche Eishockey Liga championship. [5] He was limited to twenty-four appearances that campaign as he was recovering from injuries, including a stress fracture to his spine from weight training. [6] [7]

Prior to the 2023–24 NHL season, Lutz participated in the Coyotes' training camp and appeared in NHL exhibition matches. He was eventually assigned to the Green Bay Gamblers of the United States Hockey League to continue his development for another year. [8] [9] Over the campaign, he led the team in scoring with twenty-four goals and forty-four assists in sixty-eight matches. His assist tally was sixth-best in the league that season, while his 1.36 points-per-game was ranked ninth. [10]

Lutz spent summer 2024 training at the Red Bull Academy in Salzburg. [11] On 17 June 2024, it was announced that he had signed a three-year, entry-level NHL contract with the Utah Mammoth (the then Utah Hockey Club), the new name of the Arizona Coyotes upon the franchise's relocation to Salt Lake City. [12] [13] He became the second player ever signed by the club after relocating, behind only Noel Nordh who finalized a deal a few months prior. With the deal, Lutz immediately became eligible to join Utah's AHL affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners. [14] [15] Lutz was tied as the Utah HC's top scorer during the club's rookie showcase in September 2024, with his performances including three points scored against the Vegas Golden Knights prospect team. [16] When the AHL preseason began, Lutz was part of the Tucson Roadrunners squad and appeared in its first exhibition match of the season on 5 October 2024. He went on to tally in the eventual 6–2 victory over the Henderson Silver Knights. [17]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
2020–21RB Hockey Juniors AlpsHL 311313262310112
2020–21 EC Red Bull Salzburg ICEHL 72130
2021–22 EHC Red Bull München DEL 141238
2022–23 EHC Red Bull MünchenDEL241781650000
2023–24 Green Bay Gamblers USHL 502444687162240
DEL totals3829112450000

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2021 Germany U18 10th40114
2021 Germany HG18 7th42022
2022 GermanyU188th422412
2023 Germany WJC 8th50228
2024 GermanyWJC9th51128
Junior totals22561134

References

  1. Wittenbrock, Tori. "Julian Lutz, feels at home playing for Green Bay Gamblers". The Press Times. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  2. Rupp, Christian. "The EP Rinkside DE Draft Series: A Q&A with 2022 NHL Draft prospect Julian Lutz". The EP Rinkside. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  3. "Soo Greyhound Prospects McCgroarty and Lutz Selected in 2022 NHL Draft". Sault Sports. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  4. "RD2; Julian Lutz selected by Hounds in CHL Import Draft". Canadian Hockey League. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  5. "Julian Lutz in the Academy Talk". EHC Red Bull München. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  6. Brown, Patrick. "Coyotes Prospect Julian Lutz Carrying Lessons Learned into 2023-24". National Hockey League. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  7. Morgan, Craig. "Julian Lutz out to prove that Coyotes got a draft-day steal". Go Phnx. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  8. "Gamblers Add Coyotes Draft Pick". Green Bay Gamblers. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  9. Mastey, Remy. "Coyotes Prospect Expected to Play in USHL". The Hockey News. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  10. "USHL Forwards Sign NHL Deals". USHL. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  11. "Former forward Lutz on NHL contract: "I wouldn't have got this far without the academy"". EHC Red Bull München. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  12. Stevens, Jay. "Utah Hockey Club sign forward Julian Lutz". KSL Sports. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  13. "Dream fulfilled: Julian Lutz signs first NHL contract". EHC Red Bull München. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  14. Gould, Mike. "Utah NHL team signs forward Julian Lutz to entry-level contract". The Daily Face Off. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  15. Beardsley, Chase. "2024-25 Could Be Big Season For Utah's Julian Lutz". The Hockey Writers. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  16. Houston, Brogan. "6 Utah standouts from the Rookie Faceoff". The Deseret News. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  17. "ROADRUNNERS SCORE FIVE IN THE SECOND, DEFEATING HENDERSON 6-2 IN GAME ONE OF THE PRESEASON". Tucson Roadrunners. Retrieved 9 October 2024.