Prospect Info: Tom Willander: 11th Overall 2023 Draft (Rogle BK J20) - Part 02

[F A N]

Actually, I think people are just lazy and don’t read entire threads so read posts out of context. Because if someone read all my posts, and somehow came to the conclusion that I thought Willander’s production was a big issue after I repeatedly said otherwise, then they suck at reading. But I’ve been guilty of that myself because it’s tough to read a whole thread, but slamming me for poorly communicating is ridiculous.

I feel people forget that this is a discussion board. If there is miscommunication then just clear it up. Even if there's an initial overreaction and animosity it doesn't have to continue. But people can't do that for some reason.

Anyhow, just addressing your point about Willander's offensive production from the previous year. I don't think it matters at all. Willander wasn't a projected top prospect who dropped in his draft year. He was a late riser who wasn't projected to be an offensive defenseman. We knew he wasn't going to get prime PP opportunities with Hutson there either. We didn't draft Willander because he was ahead of the curve offensively or already possessed a polished offensive game.

The whole offensive production expectation is really to make fans comfortable that he's on track to develop into a top 4 Dman because few top 4 Dmen have completely terrible offensive production in the lower leagues.

 

[VanJack]

There's really no hope of acquiring a legit top-four, right shot d-man, unless you're willing to give up the farm. So if you can't acquire one, then the only other option is to draft one.

And once you find one in the draft--you hang on for as long as it takes to figure out what you actually have. So at this point in his development, Wilander is almost a 'deal-breaker' for a Canucks trade if the other team is demanding him.

 

[Knight53]

2A ,+4 today.

 

[Brock Boeser Laser Show]

2A ,+4 today.

Really wish we had a time machine so we could add prime Willander to this team right now.

 

[ephmrl]

Really wish we had a time machine so we could add prime Willander to this team right now.

Ideally, you want him contributing in a couple years time on his ELC to offset some of the OEL buyout

 

[Knight53]

Really wish we had a time machine so we could add prime Willander to this team right now.

My hopeful canucks defence by the end of next year

Hughes - Willander
Soucy - Hronek
Pettersson - Tanev

 

[Coffee]

My hopeful canucks defence by the end of next year

Hughes - Willander
Soucy - Hronek
Pettersson - Tanev

It never works out that way, but it just may this time.

 

[Raistlin]

Canucks are pretty lucky in this regard that out of the 3 potential #2Ds available last year at the top of the draft, Willander is the one that fell on their laps and is the furthest along in development in D+1. While ASP has impressive goal scoring, he will need 3 years. Willander's game and maturity is really giving me McAvoy vibes, I cannot see him not playing some games next year.

 

[MS]

Canucks are pretty lucky in this regard that out of the 3 potential #2Ds available last year at the top of the draft, Willander is the one that fell on their laps and is the furthest along in development in D+1. While ASP has impressive goal scoring, he will need 3 years. Willander's game and maturity is really giving me McAvoy vibes, I cannot see him not playing some games next year.

He's going to walk straight into our lineup next March in the same way that Boeser did.

I don't expect a massive impact immediately but his skating will play up levels and allow him to 'learn on the job' essentially at the NHL level.

+32 in 37 games so far this year.

 

[Quinning]

Canucks are lucky that Habs went for Reinbacher and the Coyotes went for Simsashev. Willander had by far the highest rise in stock

18 points in 30 games and a plus 23 is exactly what you want to see out of a good D+1 season. Especially since he's playing behind Hudson.

 

[MarkMM]

Canucks are lucky that Habs went for Reinbacher and the Coyotes went for Simsashev. Willander had by far the highest rise in stock

18 points in 30 games and a plus 23 is exactly what you want to see out of a good D+1 season. Especially since he's playing behind Hudson.

I really wanted Reinbacher, it's early but feeling good about this.

 

[logan5]

Canucks are lucky that Habs went for Reinbacher and the Coyotes went for Simsashev. Willander had by far the highest rise in stock

18 points in 30 games and a plus 23 is exactly what you want to see out of a good D+1 season. Especially since he's playing behind Hudson.

Aren't his points pumped up by Hutson? I thought they were d partners.

 

[Raistlin]

Aren't his points pumped up by Hutson? I thought they were d partners.

I believe Pandolfo split them up for a while, they weren't together for the beanpot. Its hard to keep track.

 

[Knight53]

Canucks are lucky that Habs went for Reinbacher and the Coyotes went for Simsashev. Willander had by far the highest rise in stock

18 points in 30 games and a plus 23 is exactly what you want to see out of a good D+1 season. Especially since he's playing behind Hudson.

Willander was for me quite easily the best dman in the draft(had him ranked 5th overall). We lucked out big time getting Willander and Lekkerimaki where we did in those drafts and I know their scouts feel this way as well.

 

[Quinning]

Willander was for me quite easily the best dman in the draft(had him ranked 5th overall). We lucked out big time getting Willander and Lekkerimaki where we did in those drafts and I know their scouts feel this way as well.

Absolutely had to nail those picks given the lack of overall picks in recent years.

 

[Nucker101]

Aren't his points pumped up by Hutson? I thought they were d partners.

His points would be higher if he played on a team without Hutson and got pp1 time

 

[Breakers]

I may be off by a few weeks
But it is essentially this for his pairing

Start of season
Celebrini - (8 games
Hutson - (3 games
Webber - (5 games
Hutson - (4 games
Webber - (6 games
Gallagher - (1 game
Celebrini - (3 games
Now

 

[PuckMunchkin]

Watching the 2023 draft unfold in Nashville, the Canucks sprinted to the podium to make Wilander the 11th overall selection. It's apparent that they thought he 'fell into their laps' at that draft number, even though a lot of scouting services had him rated a little later.

But having secured a young, right shot d-man with Wilander's skill-set against 'the run of the play' so to speak.....the last thing you'd ever want to do is trade him.

I mean Im not looking to move Willander but I dont think you can make a blanket statement like this.

If the trade pushes the team over the top this year you worry about the asset you lost later.

In fact if the Flames had held out for Wilander instead of Brzustewicz in the Lindholm deal, I'd probably have walked. He's that much of a star prospect.

 

[Pastor Of Muppetz]

Craig buttons prospect rankings.

 

[Quinning]

Craig buttons prospect rankings.

View attachment 825860

ASP has had a hell of a season. Unfortunately, he was drafted with our pick. If Hronek walks, that's a lost trade.

But much like with Brzuskewicz, he's never playing PP1 time as long as Hughes is here.

 

[Vector]

From the weekend.

 

[VanJack]

From the weekend.

I mean Im not looking to move Willander but I dont think you can make a blanket statement like this.

If the trade pushes the team over the top this year you worry about the asset you lost later.

At some point, a team has to pivot from being seduced by Stanley Cup dreams, to preserving the future by not trading your top prospects.

It's one thing to trade a first round draft pick which falls in the latter half of the first round, for a guy like Lindholm. Or a 20th overall pick for a player like Miller. But dealing a top-10 kid like Dylan Guenther for a declining asset like OEL, will almost always backfire.

So once you scout and actually draft kids like Lekerimakki and Wilander, you can't be seduced into trading them, no matter how good the deal might look on paper.

 

[Diamonddog01]

I feel people forget that this is a discussion board. If there is miscommunication then just clear it up. Even if there's an initial overreaction and animosity it doesn't have to continue. But people can't do that for some reason.

Sounds nice in theory but you yourself have accused other posters, including myself, of some pretty horrendous things over the years based on misinterpretations and mistaken assumptions. Even other posters who've I've had unpleasant disagreements with have never stooped to that level.

So maybe look in the mirror before lecturing other posters on maturity and communication.

 

[VanJack]

Becoming more obvious by the day that Lekerimakki and Wilander are 'locks' to make the Canucks one day. It's not 'if' but 'when'.

That's what makes the expending of another first rounder on acquiring Lindholm kind of 'bittersweet'. Canucks are on such a roll with their first round picks in the Rutherford-Allvin era, that it kind of sucks that they likely won't have one this spring.

 

[valkynax]

Becoming more obvious by the day that Lekerimakki and Wilander are 'locks' to make the Canucks one day. It's not 'if' but 'when'.

That's what makes the expending of another first rounder on acquiring Lindholm kind of 'bittersweet'. Canucks are on such a roll with their first round picks in the Rutherford-Allvin era, that it kind of sucks that they likely won't have one this spring.

The one we traded away is gonna be around 25th overall or something. Given the circumstances I think it's an acceptable asset to part with.

It's just such a shame that we no longer have the Supreme Draft GOD of Dimbo to lend us a hand with that.