D Tom Willander - Boston University, NCAA (2023, 11th, VAN)

[Castle8130]

Man is Vancouver the worst. You go from having a legit NHL playoff team last season to getting rid of your leading scorer, the team missing the playoffs, not being able to sign your top prospect, and might lose a young Norris winner to free agenct. If they cannot get it together in the next year or two, I'm not sure they ever will

 

[Breakers]

Is he though?

Coming out of the NCAA?

Easily

 

[Fatass]

Coming out of the NCAA?

Easily

Didn’t Wilander’s advisor (agent but can’t have that title while Wilander is still a student) say Willander might not play pro in Europe this 25-26 season? Sounds like Willander is done with playing in college.

 

[Breakers]

Didn’t Wilander’s advisor (agent but can’t have that title while Wilander is still a student) say Willander might not play pro in Europe this 25-26 season? Sounds like Willander is done with playing in college.

I mean regardless of what one misinformed user named warriorintime thinks on this site

The money isn’t there is in the NCAA that he could be making pro

Plus the exodus of players
BU lost a lot of players

 

[Fatass]

I mean regardless of what one misinformed user named warriorintime thinks on this site

The money isn’t there is in the NCAA that he could be making pro

Plus the exodus of players
BU lost a lot of players

Yup. It’s a long time until next season. He could even start next season in a Euro league and sign any time with Van. If he does sign with a Euro club does that mean he loses that college UFA in Aug 2027?

 

[MrKabukiman]

Keep in mind he has to maintain academic eligibility for NCAA. If he falters, he may sign as a way out, regardless of terms.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Didn’t Wilander’s advisor (agent but can’t have that title while Wilander is still a student) say Willander might not play pro in Europe this 25-26 season? Sounds like Willander is done with playing in college.

I highly doubt he goes to play pro in Europe. Remember, this is a guy who strategically only played J20 in his draft year to maintain NCAA eligibility.

 

[Rebels57]

Man is Vancouver the worst. You go from having a legit NHL playoff team last season to getting rid of your leading scorer, the team missing the playoffs, not being able to sign your top prospect, and might lose a young Norris winner to free agenct. If they cannot get it together in the next year or two, I'm not sure they ever will

Dysfunctional ownership and management is impossible to overcome. The people running that team are borderline insane.

 

[terrierguy11]

I mean regardless of what one misinformed user named warriorintime thinks on this site

The money isn’t there is in the NCAA that he could be making pro

Plus the exodus of players
BU lost a lot of players

BU will be a top 3 team in the country in the preseason regardless of if Willander returns. They will be a stronger team on paper going into next year than they were last year.

Keep in mind he has to maintain academic eligibility for NCAA. If he falters, he may sign as a way out, regardless of terms.

There is legitimately zero chance this happens. Willander could not show up to a class and not submit work for the entire year and he would still be eligible, the hockey team means too much to BU.

 

[Breakers]

BU will be a top 3 team in the country in the preseason regardless of if Willander returns. They will be a stronger team on paper going into next year than they were last year.

There is legitimately zero chance this happens. Willander could not show up to a class and not submit work for the entire year and he would still be eligible, the hockey team means too much to BU.

They were top 3 in the preseason this year

 

[terrierguy11]

Yes, my point was that the BU will be competing for a national championship again and will be a/the favorite. That should not be an influence in whether WIllander stays/signs with VAN/signs in Europe.


FWIW, I would be very surprised if Willander came back to BU. I imagine the buzz about him returning is for leverage.

 

[zegrassyknoll]

Quite a saga developing here.

College player that doesn't want to join a team that he feels is dysfunctional?

He'll be a Duck by the end of the summer

 

[Fatass]

I highly doubt he goes to play pro in Europe. Remember, this is a guy who strategically only played J20 in his draft year to maintain NCAA eligibility.

His advisor/agent is saying Willander is in Sweden practicing with the National team and considering playing pro in Europe next season.

 

[Fatass]

College player that doesn't want to join a team that he feels is dysfunctional?

He'll be a Duck by the end of the summer

The two sides can’t agree on the Schedule A bonuses.

 

[Juxtaposer]

His advisor/agent is saying Willander is in Sweden practicing with the National team and considering playing pro in Europe next season.

Well, I suppose never say never. But it would surprise me if that's how it went. If he doesn't want to play for the Canucks and/or wants to put pressure on them, he'd need to either play out his four NCAA seasons or request a trade.

I think Willander has the power in this situation because of how high his floor is. I don't see any way that he isn't an NHLer in some capacity, so there will always be teams interested in signing him. It's guys who are more of long-shots or boom/bust types that have less negotiating power because they need to pounce on the first contract that's offered to them.

So the only reason to go to the SHL in my opinion is to start making money. But it still feels weird, because I can't imagine he'd be making more over there than he wouldn't even on a lesser NHL ELC. Willander strikes me as a very patient, methodical, smart young man. Obviously I don't know him personally, but it would shock me if he made an emotional decision here.

 

[brrt]

If he doesn't want to play for the Canucks and/or wants to put pressure on them, he'd need to either play out his four NCAA seasons or request a trade.

Or just play in Sweden for the next 2 years. That should be better for him in every way other than him simply liking the college experience or wanting a degree.

 

[Mrfenn92]

Just a weird year with the Canucks

 

[Juxtaposer]

Or just play in Sweden for the next 2 years. That should be better for him in every way other than him simply liking the college experience or wanting a degree.

Would that get him to free agency? I don't know well how that stuff works on the European side.

 

[brrt]

Would that get him to free agency? I don't know well how that stuff works on the European side.

Yeah, you become a free agent 4 years after being drafted out of Sweden if you don't sign.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Yeah, you become a free agent 4 years after being drafted out of Sweden if you don't sign.

Good to know. Then the SHL route is definitely more threatening.

 

[robertmac43]

I feel for Canucks fans - they deserve better than this ownership groups disfunction.

 

[Fatass]

Well, I suppose never say never. But it would surprise me if that's how it went. If he doesn't want to play for the Canucks and/or wants to put pressure on them, he'd need to either play out his four NCAA seasons or request a trade.

I think Willander has the power in this situation because of how high his floor is. I don't see any way that he isn't an NHLer in some capacity, so there will always be teams interested in signing him. It's guys who are more of long-shots or boom/bust types that have less negotiating power because they need to pounce on the first contract that's offered to them.

So the only reason to go to the SHL in my opinion is to start making money. But it still feels weird, because I can't imagine he'd be making more over there than he wouldn't even on a lesser NHL ELC. Willander strikes me as a very patient, methodical, smart young man. Obviously I don't know him personally, but it would shock me if he made an emotional decision here.

The way Van does things, I wouldn’t at all be surprised they trade Willander. He’s got a lot of value for the reasons you suggest. Elite hockey smarts, elite talent, and right shot D.

 

[cheesymc]

I wonder if the Ducks would offer to trade down from their projected 8th spot to Vancouver’s 15th for Willander’s rights. Ducks do have Luneau, Moore, and Warren but it doesn’t hurt to add another RHD when Gudas and Trouba are UFAs after next season.

 

[Fatass]

Would that get him to free agency? I don't know well how that stuff works on the European side.

Soon as he signs a pro contract he loses his college eligibility. Plus, guys need to play four years in college, don’t they?

 

[Juxtaposer]

The way Van does things, I wouldn’t at all be surprised they trade Willander. He’s got a lot of value for the reasons you suggest. Elite hockey smarts, elite talent, and right shot D.

History shows that once the player and the org have a disagreement like this, it's hard to get back.

I bet he'll be dangled as the main piece for a center this summer.

Soon as he signs a pro contract he loses his college eligibility. Plus, guys need to play four years in college, don’t they?

Yes, he'd lose NCAA eligibility by signing with a pro team in Sweden. But as brrt said a few posts ago, he can also get to UFA by playing two more years in Sweden without signing.