Prospect Info: The 2024-2025 Prospect Thread: Part 1: Skate or Die!

[ManVanFan]

Willander was a late boomer, makes sense to have him spend more time to develop.
I think folks can’t wrap their head around the idea we drafted him for his potential and are willing to spend time for that potential to be realized which is very different than what you would expect from a high round pick which is typically high potential and faster to NHL.

Cale Makar played two years of college after his draft year.

 

[arttk]

Cale Makar played two years of college after his draft year.

Looks like Makar also had very similar numbers in his D+1 as Willander. Not saying Willander will be like Makar.

People just need to be patient and see what happens with Willander this season. But it’s frustrating that he is not getting Pp1.

 

[ManVanFan]

Looks like Makar also had very similar numbers in his D+1 as Willander. Not saying Willander will be like Makar.

People just need to be patient and see what happens with Willander this season. But it’s frustrating that he is not getting Pp1.

Makar and Willander aren't the same player. Willander has never really shown that high end offensive skill. Neither did Brock Faber until he got to the NHL.

BU had a lot of vets on defence last year. Willander is going to have a much larger role more often this year. Similar points totals this year against harder competition would be a win. His transition struggled a bit last year as well.

 

[beachcomber]

He might be on the Canucks roster by 2026.

 

[arttk]

Makar and Willander aren't the same player. Willander has never really shown that high end offensive skill. Neither did Brock Faber until he got to the NHL.

BU had a lot of vets on defence last year. Willander is going to have a much larger role more often this year. Similar points totals this year against harder competition would be a win. His transition struggled a bit last year as well.

Willander was already the shutdown guy last season and played against harder competition. the hope is that he'll be able to not just shutdown but drive offense as well.

 

[Vector]

 

[ManVanFan]

Willander was already the shutdown guy last season and played against harder competition. the hope is that he'll be able to not just shutdown but drive offense as well.

I watched probably half the BU games last year and I wouldn't have called him the shutdown guy. Every game I watched he basically played as a 2nd pair guy.

 

[ManVanFan]

I just turned the game on and the 1st shift I saw was his line get hemmed in for over a minute. Quite a bit of one hand on his stick waving at the blue liner with the puck. Missed a change opportunity, got bailed out by his goalie, made a nice block, bailed out by his goalie after a scramble and involved in some pushing and shoving.

Getting 2nd PP time on the half wall.

 

[krutovsdonut]

I watched probably half the BU games last year and I wouldn't have called him the shutdown guy. Every game I watched he basically played as a 2nd pair guy.

those two terms are not mutually exclusive.

 

[arttk]

I watched probably half the BU games last year and I wouldn't have called him the shutdown guy. Every game I watched he basically played as a 2nd pair guy.

I mean the 1st pairing was basically Hutson roaming everywhere, you can hardly say that Hutson was out there to defend.

 

[ManVanFan]

I mean the 1st pairing was basically Hutson roaming everywhere, you can hardly say that Hutson was out there to defend.

No defending was done by Lane Hutson last season but he was still playing 25 minutes a game or more. Willander should get a top 6 match up every time he is on the ice this season.

 

[arttk]

No defending was done by Lane Hutson last season but he was still playing 25 minutes a game or more. Willander should get a top 6 match up every time he is on the ice this season.

Yes

 

[Yultron]

Canucks hockey is back in full flight as Patterson , Alriksson and Romani are all in action tonight in the OHL, while Alriksson’s teammate Jett Luchanko makes his NHL debut tonight against our mighty Canucks !

 

[Lindgren]

Canucks hockey is back in full flight as Patterson , Alriksson and Romani are all in action tonight in the OHL, while Alriksson’s teammate Jett Luchanko makes his NHL debut tonight against our mighty Canucks !

And Mynio plays out here in the west.

 

[Yultron]

Romani is off to a very cold start this season with his goals only being empty netters, he needs to pick up the pace

 

[Vector]

Romani is off to a very cold start this season with his goals only being empty netters, he needs to pick up the face

Well, there’s his problem right there. His face fell off.

 

[Tables of Stats]

Well, there’s his problem right there. His face fell off.

We should expect such misfortune to befall our prospects, such is Canuck luck.

 

[Lindgren]

Mynio had two goals and an assist tonight in a 3-1 Seattle win (all at even strength).

 

[VanJack]

Based on how this Canucks blueline looks in the early going, I'd say Wilander might not spend a lot of time in Abbotsford. They may have to force-feed him into the NHL.

 

[The Iron Goalie]

Mynio had two goals and an assist tonight in a 3-1 Seattle win (all at even strength).

Just for added context - The assist was primary on the GWG, and his 2nd goal was shorthanded into the empty net. Also, he had 9! shots lol

 

[Mr. Canucklehead]

Mynio off to a hot start is great to see. Hopefully he can stake a claim to a spot at the WJCs if he keeps it up.

 

[WTG]

Based on how this Canucks blueline looks in the early going, I'd say Wilander might not spend a lot of time in Abbotsford. They may have to force-feed him into the NHL.

He’s not ready IMO. People are getting ahead of themselves with Willander and the fact that he is a first round pick but whenever I watch him he does not seem NHL ready. If I were to look at last year and do a blind viewing of Brzustewicz and Willander, you’d walk away and think that Brzustewicz was the 1st round pick and Willander the 3rd round pick.

Willander needs to take a big step up this year.

 

[Vector]

He’s not ready IMO. People are getting ahead of themselves with Willander and the fact that he is a first round pick but whenever I watch him he does not seem NHL ready. If I were to look at last year and do a blind viewing of Brzustewicz and Willander, you’d walk away and think that Brzustewicz was the 1st round pick and Willander the 3rd round pick.

Willander needs to take a big step up this year.

The bolded I agree with but the second part I vehemently disagree with.

Although I think Willander probably could stick in the NHL as a low event third pair guy, there’s a better development path.

 

[WTG]

The bolded I agree with but the second part I vehemently disagree with.

Although I think Willander probably could stick in the NHL as a low event third pair guy, there’s a better development path.

That's fine. Hey, maybe I just watched the wrong games. But Brzuwesticz dominated when I watched him. Willander's shifts blended together as just meh. People project him as some top end surefire Tanev like defender, I don't agree. Good defensive defenseman are really good transitional defenseman. I did not really see that from Willander.

I hope he takes a big step in his development this year.

 

[Vector]

That's fine. Hey, maybe I just watched the wrong games. But Brzuwesticz dominated when I watched him. Willander's shifts blended together as just meh. People project him as some top end surefire Tanev like defender, I don't agree. Good defensive defenseman are really good transitional defenseman. I did not really see that from Willander.

I hope he takes a big step in his development this year.

Whenever I watch Brzuwesticz I see a player that makes wow plays but all the little things I look for in a defencemen he can't do. Willander is the exact opposite. He definitely needs to really up his transition game, however. I'm not looking for point totals but want to see the ice completely tilted when he's on because he's pushing the puck the other way as quickly and smoothly as possible. He isn't there yet.