D Tom Willander - Boston University, NCAA (2023, 11th, VAN)
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shotvalley
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- Jan 18, 2010
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SantosHalper
Get off my lawn
Years ago i was told that a player can't play college hockey if he has played pro games or even participated pro teams practice. But apparently that was false information and the player contract situation is the decisive factor.
So at the time of my comment i was still under the impression that Willander is not eligible to play in NCAA, since Willander had 2 SHL games and 1 Allsvenskan game. TOI doesn't matter since he was marked in game day line ups in pro leagues.
theslatcher
Registered User
My bad for not seeing the context, yeah, as long as you don't have a contract (or been under one, I assume) you're good to go, at least outside of USA, & Canada.
Rogie21
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- Sep 10, 2005
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The Athletic's Pronman now has him at #15 overall.
Analysis: Willander’s skating is his main asset for the NHL; he is one of the best skaters in the draft. He has a quick, powerful skating stride and can push the pace up ice with the puck. Willander’s skating allows him to close on checks well and be a quality defender especially when combined with the fact he has some physicality in his game. I wasn’t always sold on his offensive touch. I don’t see a big-time playmaker as a pro, but Willander has good enough skill and vision to move pucks at higher levels well, especially given the space his feet can generate. He has the making of a good two-way top four defenseman.
Analysis: Willander’s skating is his main asset for the NHL; he is one of the best skaters in the draft. He has a quick, powerful skating stride and can push the pace up ice with the puck. Willander’s skating allows him to close on checks well and be a quality defender especially when combined with the fact he has some physicality in his game. I wasn’t always sold on his offensive touch. I don’t see a big-time playmaker as a pro, but Willander has good enough skill and vision to move pucks at higher levels well, especially given the space his feet can generate. He has the making of a good two-way top four defenseman.
Kipper933
Remember the Kipper
Yeah, at this point, I think it's likely he goes top 20. Could be this year's early "surprise" pick, wouldn't rule out the top 12.
Vachon23
Registered User
If the FLA pick stays at 17, I would like MTL to draft him at that spot. We need RD on our prospect pool and we do need a defensemen like on our RD with Barron/Mailloux being more offensive guy. He could be a great partner for Huston in the futur and they would play together in BU next year where to could build chemistry.
Bjornar Moxnes
Registered User
Vachon23
Registered User
Bjornar Moxnes
Registered User
Reinbacher, ASP, Willander, Gulyalev, and Simashev in that order for Dman preference.ASP would be great for you guyshaha
Vachon23
Registered User
Personally I prefer Tom Willander then ASP, especially with what the Habs need on the RD
Went to Basel last weekend and i was really impressed by him. Liked his game a lot and was surprised that he wasnt seen as a 1st round pick by most before. I am no expert and am only familiar with the top 20 or maybe 25 picks of the 23 draft so i was quite impressed because i didnt know q lot about him. Same is true (to a little lesser extent) for Edström and wahlberg
As the draft approaches, more and more of the Dmen will be given consideration over the high scoring junior forwards with size, skating, or other question marks.
I have seen some lists with only 4 Dmen in the first round. That is simply not going to happen.
I have seen some lists with only 4 Dmen in the first round. That is simply not going to happen.
Hockeyfrilla
Swe prospect fanatic
Marc the Habs Fan
Moderator
I see Drew Doughty in Willander. Skating, vision, play style wise as well. He’s got some physical attributes and doesn’t seem to shy away from the grittier side of the game.
Steve Kournianos
@thedraftanalyst
Willander is a wildcard. I only go off of his Rogle plays which was not as structured as it was for Sweden. He makes the game an adventure for his unit by chasing after every puck. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. I went back and watched the Djugardens games and he got burned a lot for snooping around for pucks down low. If a team can settle him down by a notch, it could be a big payoff. My issues with him aren’t skill related but def decision making.
The Puckhound
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- Jan 24, 2019
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Apparently this kid is really impressing in interviews. On the Athletic podcast Pronman said his his interviews are being compared to Gabriel Landeskog's, who's a real natural leader and has been since a young age.
Between the apparent maturity/leadership, his skating and being a 6'1'' RHD this guy is going to go pretty high and have a lot of admirers at the NHL level
Between the apparent maturity/leadership, his skating and being a 6'1'' RHD this guy is going to go pretty high and have a lot of admirers at the NHL level
Bjornar Moxnes
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SelltheTeamFrancesco
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- Aug 11, 2015
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Castle8130
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- May 9, 2017
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Reminds me much more of Makar in his draft year as a comparable. Not in overall talent, but in skating style and habits.
Bjornar Moxnes
Registered User
Steve Kournianos
@thedraftanalyst
I get it, but Landeskog was a consensus top-2 pick for most of his draft year. Not doubting Willander's maturity and upside but it would be bananas that one late-season tournament and interviews get him drafted ahead of Benson, Dvorsky, Danielson, etc.
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