It’s been great to be a Vancouver Canucks fan early on this season. The parent club is hovering around the top of the NHL at a surprising 13-5-1, their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate the Abbotsford Canucks are 10-4-1, and a number of prospects are having breakout seasons in their respective leagues. More specifically, their 2023 Draft class has been turning a lot of heads, so I thought it was a good time to take a look at each of their seasons so far.
Tom Willander, Right Defence, Boston University (NCAA) – 11th Overall
Tom Willander‘s debut in the NCAA was delayed by one game, but it didn’t take long for him to show everyone why he was so highly regarded as a first-round pick in the 2023 Draft. His first game on Oct. 13 saw him record two points – including his first goal in college hockey. Since then, he has put up another five points in 11 games and has seen time on the top pairing alongside Montreal Canadiens’ uber prospect Lane Hutson.
The things that stood out during his draft year in Sweden have also presented themselves in the NCAA. His mobility and passing are clearly strengths that will serve him well once he makes it to the NHL. However, there are some weaknesses that will have to be addressed before then, like his puck handling and defensive game. While he’s good at defending the rush, there are some concerns about his overall defensive IQ.
Nevertheless, this leads to a critical discussion centred around Willander’s defensive IQ. While this was very much the case in his draft season, it’s important to note that while the Canucks prospect has many positive, drilled-down habits and possesses the tools to disrupt play at a high level, he is not necessarily an extraordinary defensive mind. His most extensive breakdowns are usually due to reactiveness, puck-watching, and missed reads. He’s more toolsy than cerebral.
That said, he doesn’t believe that will hold him back from becoming an effective NHLer. “Regardless, the defensive projection to the NHL level is still clear as day — just expect more stops because of his physical tools rather than straight-up outthinking opponents.”
Related: Canucks’ Dakota Joshua Finding Success in Rick Tocchet’s System
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Overall, Willander’s first foray into the NCAA has been relatively successful, which is great for the future of the Canucks’ blue line. We will see how…
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