Interview with Julian Lutz

Friday, 14. June 2024 | Interview with Julian Lutz

Former forward Lutz on NHL contract: "I wouldn't have got this far without the academy"Interview with champion player Julian Lutz// INTERVIEWJulian Lutz has signed his first professional NHL contract. In this interview, the 20-year-old talks about what this moment was like for him, how he is preparing for the NHL at the Red Bull Ice Hockey Academy and what he misses in the USA.

How are pre-season preparations at the academy going for you so far?

Julian Lutz: "I'm delighted to be able to train here. Everything fits perfectly. I can live with my parents, enjoy the time with them and concentrate fully on the new season. The academy offers every opportunity to do so."

You joined the academy for the first time at the age of twelve. What was it like for you back then?

Lutz: "I was still very young and my parents moved with me. Of course, that brought with it a certain amount of pressure to perform. But it was a great time. You have the best coaches here, the best gym, the best skatemill - everything at the highest level. I wouldn't have got this far without the academy."

Julian Lutz zu seiner Zeit in München & dem SAP Garden

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In the summer of 2022, you were drafted 43rd overall by the Arizona Coyotes into the NHL. How did you experience that?

Lutz: "That was one of the best moments of my career so far. I was in Montreal with my whole family and we had a great time there. When my name came up in the draft, it was something very special. It was a bit of a relief, but also just a cool moment when I hugged the whole family. After that, it was a bit like being immersed in the NHL world."

During this time (2021 to 2023) you still played for EHC Red Bull München. What was your time with the Red Bulls like?

Lutz: "Due to numerous injuries, I always had difficult moments in Munich. I was out for six months in my first year. It was then difficult to come back because we were already heading for the playoffs. I wasn't able to play because of the U18 World Championships. I then had high ambitions for the next season, but even then I had to battle with injuries again and again. In the end, even that helped me progress and I learned to come out of such situations even stronger."

You were part of the championship-winning team in the 2022/23 season. Is there anything you remember particularly fondly?

Lutz: "It was a super cool experience to see how tough a playoff series is. How the players push themselves to their limits for success. You don't know when you'll be able to celebrate a title like that again, so you have to take it all in your stride. It was a great time."

What was the best moment in Munich?

Lutz: "My first goal. That was at home and the fans cheered me on. After the game I was allowed to start the Humba - that was a special experience."

Then you went to the USA. Did you miss the good Munich food?

Lutz (laughs): "I did miss the food at home. In the USA, food is a matter of taste. My mom sent me one or two recipes and I did my best to cook them."

You played for the Green Bay Gamblers in the UCHL last season. Was it a good season for you in your eyes?

Lutz: "Because of the injuries the years before and the advice from Arizona that the year in Green Bay would be the best for me, I took a little step back. But there I was able to be the player who makes the difference, get a lot of playing time and gain confidence. A lot of things fell into place. It was important for me to find myself again a little."

With 26 goals and 46 assists, you then recommended yourself for your first professional contract with the Utah NHL team. How did that go?

Lutz: "It was my goal to sign a pro contract this year. You talk to each other all year, especially with the coach who was responsible for the drafted forwards. I had already done a lot of video work with him beforehand. I was in contact with scouts and managers, but in the end it was a bit sudden - it was a happy moment. Now the work really starts."

Ex-Münchner im Gespräch: Das komplette Interview mit Julian Lutz

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You are now preparing at the Red Bull Ice Hockey Academy in Salzburg. When are you going back to the USA?

Lutz: "In July I have to go to the development camp for a week, that's important for the young players. Then I'll be back in Salzburg until the end of August. I don't yet know exactly when I'll definitely go back."

So you'll miss the Grand Opening at the SAP Garden. Are you still following the development of the new arena?

Lutz: "I'm very interested in it. It's a great project that's being created. I would like to take another look behind the scenes. I did a tour some time ago, but there wasn't much to see. There are always snapshots of the construction progress on the club channels on Mondays - it looks great."

What are your expectations for the new season when you're back in the USA?

Lutz: "I expect to play in the AHL at first. Maksymilian Szuber has shown me a little bit. Of course I also hope that, like him, I get the chance to show myself once or twice in the NHL. And if you prove yourself there, things can happen very quickly."