(S63 Class) Lukas Muller [1/2]

[Enorama 2,039]

Position: C
Birthplace: Cologne, Germany
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 185lbs
Jersey Number: 13 
Drafted: 2nd Overall (S53) Quebec City Meute
Username: solas

 

Lukas Muller's career trajectory is that of a quintessential late bloomer. While he put up some respectable point totals in his first few seasons, he didn't actually achieve success until his fourth season, when he broke out of his shell entirely, picking up three personal awards and his first ever Continental Cup. In his last four seasons, he managed to tack on another pair of cups, making him a member of the glorified triple-Champion club. Even more impressive is the fact that his three cups actually came with three different VHL teams, showing how he could excel anywhere.

 

Career Awards:

S56 Brett Slobodzian Trophy (Most Outstanding)
S56 Mike Szatkowski Trophy (Most Points)
S56 Alexander Beketov Trophy (Most Assists)
S56 Continental Cup
S58 Continental Cup
S60 Continental Cup

 

 

S53

Regular season
53 (QUE) | 72 GP | 25 G 48 A 73 P | -5 | 290 SHT | 14 PIM | 61 HIT 
Playoffs
53 (QUE) | 5 GP | 0 G 3 A 3 P | -2 | 7 SHT | 2 PIM | 4 HIT 

Muller stepped into the VHL and immediately looked ready to party with the big guys. Any season wherein a player achieves a point per game or more, he's happy. Even moreso when it's his rookie season and his performance puts him into the conversation for the rookie of the year award. Unfortunately for Muller, his rookie season was overshadowed by defenseman Alexander Thrower's outstanding freshman year. Young Muller got some early exposure to the postseason in S53 as well, but his and Quebec's play left a little to be desired as they exited the semi-finals rather swiftly.

 

S54

Regular season
54 (QUE) | 72 GP | 36 G 66 A 102 P | +74 | 361 SHT | 51 PIM | 136 HIT 
Playoffs
54 (QUE) | 12 GP | 2 G 13 A 15 P | +10 | 41 SHT | 8 PIM | 16 HIT 

Determined to improve in his sophomore year in the VHL, Muller came out of the gates flying for S54. His stats increased in every category as he scored 11 more goals and 18 more assists than the year prior, but what's more impressive is how he improved defensively. His hit totals more than doubled and his plus-minus increased by a staggering 79 from his rookie year. Muller and the rest of the Meute carried this into playoffs, where he once again posted solid stats in every category, but Quebec unfortunately bowed out to Helsinki in the six-game final series.

 

S55

Regular season
55 (QUE) | 72 GP | 28 G 73 A 101 P | +55 | 363 SHT | 54 PIM | 122 HIT 
Playoffs
55 (QUE) | 12 GP | 2 G 8 A 10 P | +6 | 47 SHT | 6 PIM | 9 HIT 

After his monster second season, Muller took a step back and came slightly back towards Earth for S55. His hits and plus-minus regressed slightly, but he still scored over 100 points on the season. Quebec once again cemented themselves solidly in the playoffs, but for the second year in a row saw the finals slip away from them. Muller himself only posted a slightly disappointing 10 points in 12 games.

 

S56

Regular season
56 (QUE) | 72 GP | 48 G 88 A 136 P | +77 | 436 SHT | 33 PIM | 103 HIT 
Playoffs
56 (QUE) | 13 GP | 9 G 11 A 20 P | -3 | 56 SHT | 9 PIM | 17 HIT 

Upon first glance, one might recognize S54 as being Lukas Muller's monster season, until you hit S56, that is. 136 points in 72 games comes out to about a 1.9 points per game pace, putting him on par with some of the all-time greats. Riding Muller's incredible season, Quebec stormed into playoffs, but this season they wouldn't be going home empty handed. Along with the Continental Cup, Muller also won personal awards for most points, most assists, and most outstanding player.

 

S57

Regular season
57 (QUE) | 72 GP | 27 G 65 A 92 P | +56 | 317 SHT | 10 PIM | 29 HIT 
Playoffs
57 (QUE) | 12 GP | 5 G 6 A 11 P | -4 | 53 SHT | 2 PIM | 5 HIT 

For just the second time in his career and first time since his rookie season, Muller's S57 campaign saw his point total drop below 100. His plus-minus, penalty minutes, shots, and hits all fell too, showing that his team either used him differently, tried to execute different strategies, or just didn't have the puck a lot. For the fourth season in a row, Muller and the rest of the Quebec Meute made the VHL playoff finals, but for the third time in those four seasons, they bowed out without a cup. 

 

S58

Regular season
58 (RIG) | 72 GP | 35 G 68 A 103 P | +47 | 329 SHT | 30 PIM | 0 HIT 
Playoffs
58 (RIG) | 11 GP | 6 G 8 A 14 P | +2 | 62 SHT | 0 PIM | 2 HIT 

During the offseason between S57 and S58, Muller was shipped from the Quebec Meute to the Riga Reign in search of another cup. The trade saw both a dispersal draft pick and an entry draft pick going the other way. Muller immediately went to work with his new squad, once again surpassing the 100 point threshold on the year, and once again storming into the VHL playoff finals. Not only did Muller win his second Continental Cup, but he scored the goal that won it for the Reign.

 

S59

Regular season
59 (RIG) | 72 GP | 12 G 39 A 51 P | -22 | 253 SHT | 54 PIM | 10 HIT 
Playoffs
59 (RIG) | 3 GP | 0 G 0 A 0 P | -4 | 10 SHT | 4 PIM | 4 HIT 

As all players tend to do as they get older, Muller saw his play slip a bit as he entered his second-last season. His 51 points were respectable, but nothing special, and Riga barely limped into the wildcard round of playoffs, where they lost three straight games and went golfing early. Muller wasn't used to seasons ending this early after making the finals for 5 straight seasons.

 

S60

Regular season
60 (HSK) | 72 GP | 17 G 56 A 73 P | +6 | 181 SHT | 12 PIM | 24 HIT 
Playoffs
60 (HSK) | 13 GP | 3 G 6 A 9 P | -2 | 26 SHT | 14 PIM | 12 HIT 

In the offseason before S60, Muller was shipped from the Reign back to Quebec and the Meute in return for a bundle headlined by Keaton Louth and alongside a 1st round pick swap. Before long, however, Muller was once again on the move, this time over to the team that held his draft pick rights in the first place, the Helsinki Titans, in return for just a 2nd round pick. Seemingly refreshed by the change of scenery, Muller returned partially to his previous form, putting up stats similar to his standout rookie season. Come playoff time, Muller and the Titans marched into the 6th finals of his 8 year career, where the centre punctuated his career with one final Continental Cup.

 

Career Totals:

Regular season
Totals | 576 GP | 228 G 503 A 731 P | +288 | 2530 SHT | 258 PIM | 485 HIT 
Playoffs
Totals | 81 GP | 27 G 55 A 82 P | +3 | 302 SHT | 45 PIM | 69 HIT 

Averaging over 10 playoff games per season and being over a point per game in the playoffs across his career, it's not hard to see why Muller was known as a clutch performer come the postseason. His trio of Continental Cups give evidence to that. Combine his postseason performance with a couple of absolutely monster regular seasons, and you have the making of one of the greatest players of all time. Welcome to the Hall of Fame, Lukas Muller.

 

Edited April 1, 2019 by Enorama

[leafssteen 50]

Review: Will review when finished 

Edited March 7, 2019 by leafssteen
He wasn’t finished

[Beketov 9,100]

2 minutes ago, leafssteen said:

Review: First off this article is only 392 words and should be atleast 500. Second I feel like you can do better then just posting all your stats & awards you won. I hope this doesn’t come off as harsh as I’m just trying to help you improve in the future! 

He did say it was WIP (Work in Progress) so he isn’t finished with it yet.

[leafssteen 50]

Just now, Beketov said:

He did say it was WIP (Work in Progress) so he isn’t finished with it yet.

 

Oh my sincere apologies, I saw that in the title & didn’t know what that meant! Really sorry @Enorama!

[Enorama 2,039]

1 hour ago, leafssteen said:

 

Oh my sincere apologies, I saw that in the title & didn’t know what that meant! Really sorry @Enorama!

 

It also isn't my player, so I'm not just tooting m own horn  it's an article for a new-ish hall of fame entrant.

[leafssteen 50]

2 hours ago, Enorama said:

 

It also isn't my player, so I'm not just tooting m own horn  it's an article for a new-ish hall of fame entrant.

 

Right on bro ! Sorry again lol

[Enorama 2,039]

@leafssteen it's done now if you still want something to review

[TheLastOlympian07 2,388]

Review

This was a well written article about VHL HoFer Lukas Muller. too bad @solas went inactive a bit near the end of his career because if he had been banking TPE he would have been a bit better considering his final two seasons. good job on this.