**“FROM LONGSHOT TO BLUE LINE BET — Oilers’ Surprise 2020 Pick Luca Münzenberger Defied Draft Rankings After Going 90th Overall Despite Limited Scouting Buzz”**

When the Edmonton Oilers announced Luca Münzenberger as their third-round selection, 90th overall, in the 2020 NHL Draft, it turned more than a few heads. At a time when mock drafts and consolidated rankings were more accessible than ever, the name barely registered. In fact, only one prominent outlet—McKeen’s Hockey—had the German defenseman on their list at all, placing him at a distant 214th. The Oilers, clearly seeing something others didn’t, took a gamble that many described as a reach. The selection drew puzzled looks and provoked the typical post-draft grumblings from fans and pundits who questioned how a player so far off the radar could be worth such a premium pick. But as with many draft day decisions that initially confound, time would begin to cast the move in a different light.

Luca Münzenberger wasn’t a complete unknown to scouts, but the 2020 season—marked by the disruptions of a global pandemic—threw a wrench into the usual visibility pipeline for many European prospects. Leagues were paused, tournaments were canceled, and transatlantic scouting trips were severely limited. In that uncertain and chaotic context, it’s possible that many NHL organizations simply didn’t get enough of a look at the Hamburg native. But Edmonton clearly did. The Oilers had a connection to the German national program through their then-assistant coach and European scout who had seen Münzenberger during international competition. That relationship may have offered them a scouting edge—and they used it to strike early.

The defenseman’s physical profile was hard to ignore. Standing 6-foot-2 and weighing over 190 pounds at the time of his draft, Münzenberger fit the mold of the modern defensive defenseman—rangy, mobile, and capable of handling tough matchups. While his offensive upside was a work in progress, his hockey IQ, willingness to engage physically, and raw athletic potential hinted at someone who could be molded into a reliable NHLer with the right development path. Edmonton believed that, even if no one else did.

Following his draft, Münzenberger made a crucial decision: he committed to playing college hockey at the University of Vermont. This move was met with curiosity, as most German players either remain in Europe to develop in domestic leagues or try their luck in junior leagues across Canada. But the NCAA path gave Münzenberger time—time to mature, to adjust to the North American game, and to receive structured development in a highly competitive environment. The University of Vermont may not have been a powerhouse program, but it offered him regular minutes, responsibility, and access to coaching focused on long-term player progression.

His freshman season with the Catamounts gave observers their first sustained look at the German defenseman on North American ice. Though his offensive stats didn’t leap off the page, he showed steady improvement in his defensive zone coverage, puck retrieval, and gap control. He played heavy minutes against top competition and was regularly used on the penalty kill. More than anything, he demonstrated poise and a strong work ethic—traits that can be undervalued in draft rankings but are essential to making the leap to the professional level.

What really began to shift perceptions, though, was Münzenberger’s performance in international play. Representing Germany at the IIHF World Junior Championships, he became one of the team’s top defenders. He was trusted in all situations, took on leadership responsibilities, and displayed a compete level that was hard to ignore. Facing off against elite talents from the U.S., Canada, and Finland, he more than held his own. Suddenly, the once-derided third-round pick was being looked at through a new lens.

As his development continued in the NCAA, the Oilers remained closely involved in monitoring his progress. They saw incremental gains each year in his skating, decision-making, and consistency. While offensive production remained modest, the qualities Edmonton valued when they drafted him—defensive reliability, character, and long-term potential—were all trending upward. In many ways, Münzenberger was becoming exactly the type of defenseman teams covet in their bottom four: a sturdy, smart, stay-at-home blueliner who can eat minutes, kill penalties, and bring a physical edge without taking unnecessary risks.

The 2023-2024 season became a turning point. In his final year at Vermont, Münzenberger took on a more prominent leadership role and showed signs of rounding out his game. He began activating more frequently in the offensive zone, demonstrated better puck distribution, and added a layer of confidence to his play that scouts had been waiting to see. Though he never exploded statistically, his impact on games was becoming harder to deny.

Shortly after that season concluded, the Oilers signed him to an entry-level contract, bringing the German defenseman officially into their system. Assigned to the Bakersfield Condors in the AHL, Münzenberger stepped into professional hockey with a sense of quiet determination. Though he had to earn his ice time, his reliability in his own end and physicality along the boards quickly gained him the trust of his coaches. While other prospects may have brought flashier resumes or highlight-reel plays, Münzenberger brought something equally valuable: dependability.

Now, with each passing year, the initial draft-day skepticism begins to look more and more like a classic case of a front office trusting their evaluations over consensus rankings. The Oilers saw a young defenseman who wasn’t yet the finished product but had all the tools to become one. They knew his upside wasn’t going to be realized overnight. They invested in a project pick—and that investment is starting to bear fruit.

There’s also a broader narrative at play in Münzenberger’s story: one that speaks to the unpredictability of the NHL draft. For every first-round pick who fails to make an impact, there’s a mid-to-late rounder who carves out a meaningful career. And while draft rankings and scouting reports are useful, they can’t fully capture intangibles like character, adaptability, and desire to improve. Those are the qualities that often separate the prospects who stagnate from those who develop steadily and steadily force their way into the lineup.

For Edmonton, finding NHL contributors outside the first round has been a key part of building a sustainable contender around stars like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Cap space becomes tight, and depth becomes crucial. If Münzenberger can translate his AHL success into NHL minutes, he becomes yet another example of value found in unlikely places—a crucial bottom-pairing piece developed with patience and foresight.

Münzenberger’s development also reflects the broader growth of German hockey, a pipeline that has produced increasingly impactful NHL players in recent years. With names like Draisaitl, Tim Stützle, and Moritz Seider leading the charge, Germany is no longer viewed as a fringe hockey nation. For young players like Münzenberger, that shift brings more opportunity—and perhaps more scrutiny. But he’s embraced that challenge quietly, letting his game do the talking.

Today, the conversation around Luca Münzenberger has evolved. What was once considered a puzzling pick is now looked at as a calculated risk that may soon pay off. He may never be a top-pairing offensive dynamo, but he doesn’t need to be. His value lies in the kind of minutes that don’t show up on the scoresheet but win coaches’ trust: shutting down opposing cycles, clearing the crease, blocking shots, and making the simple, smart first pass that gets the play moving the other way. Those are the moments that define success in the playoffs. Those are the moments that Münzenberger is working toward.

The NHL isn’t about how high you’re drafted—it’s about what you do after. Luca Münzenberger is proving that a third-round pick can be every bit as impactful as a first, if not more, given the right path and the right mindset. And if his trajectory continues upward, the Oilers will have the last laugh—because they believed when no one else did.