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

[Breakers]

Willander since world U 18's:

+47 in 57 games (college +international)

Now plus minus isn't the greatest stat but you're doing something right when it's that high. I think a lot of the nuances in his game help him always play a positive role in goal prevention no matter what level he is playing.

He can skate effortlessly, munch minutes at even strength/pk, shut down other teams players, and not take many penalties. I don't know what more people want from him but really the offense should be considered an added bonus.

Him and Theo Lindstein was one of the strongest pairings ive seen at any level of amateur hockey.

 

[arttk]

I don't like using Tanev as a comparable because his willingness to sacrifice his body is unicorn stuff, but to me he's a very straight projection to being a RH Jonas Brodin.

Yeah stylistically not the same but Tanev is an easier comparison in terms of potential impact and the fact we are really familiar with him.

 

[Szechwan]

I don't like using Tanev as a comparable because his willingness to sacrifice his body is unicorn stuff, but to me he's a very straight projection to being a RH Jonas Brodin.

It'll be a while before he's ready for primetime, but it's hard to imagine a better stylistic fit for Hughes than a RH Brodin.

 

[arttk]

It'll be a whole before he's ready for primetime, but it's hard to imagine a better stylistic fit for Hughes than a RH Brodin.

RH Lidstrom would be a better fit

 

[beachcomber]

Other teams just don't score when he's on the ice.

Exactly, and I don't think some folks here realize what a unicorn this kid is shaping up to be. He isn't going to be traded, period.

 

[VintageBure]

Tracking nicely. Point per game so far is nice to see. Hopefully he keeps it up ! Willander hughes and hroenek are a good puck moving trio to build around.

 

[bandwagonesque]

Exactly, and I don't think some folks here realize what a unicorn this kid is shaping up to be. He isn't going to be traded, period.

I'd bet nearly anything that if this team is in serious contention mid-season, Lekkerimaki and the 1st are gone and Willander isn't.

 

[arttk]

I'd bet nearly anything that if this team is in serious contention mid-season, Lekkerimaki and the 1st are gone and Willander isn't.

It really depends on how Lekk trends, if he is killing it he is just as valuable as Willander.

 

[logan5]

His defensive game isn't in question, so if he finishes the season at a point per game in his sophomore year like Hughes did, does that mean he has strong potential to be a #1 d man?

I'd bet nearly anything that if this team is in serious contention mid-season, Lekkerimaki and the 1st are gone and Willander isn't.

We need those cheap elc contract/high skill guys to contend for a Stanley Cup as well.

 

[JT Milker]

Tanev isn’t an unreasonable comparison in terms of his mobility and gap control. Very few people block shots and take hits like Tanev though. Willander is also ppg in the NCAA without playing on the 1st pp unit at the same age Tanev was playing in a Canadian farmers’ league, so there’s reason to believe he has much higher offensive upside.

 

[Quinning]

Exactly, and I don't think some folks here realize what a unicorn this kid is shaping up to be. He isn't going to be traded, period.

It would be a monumental mistake to trade him now. Players like Brzuskewicz have clear holes in their games despite putting up numbers (as shown by his 1 assist in 7 games in the AHL) - they make for perfect trade bait.

Willander looks like a sure bet to be at least a top 4 at the NHL level, with a shot at top pairing.

 

[MS]

I wouldn't trade Willander for 2 Lekkerimakis and I find it so strange that the media seems to nearly unanimously have Lekkerimaki as the team's top prospect.

Willander is the team's best prospect, and it isn't close.

 

[Phrasing]

I wouldn't trade Willander for 2 Lekkerimakis and I find it so strange that the media seems to nearly unanimously have Lekkerimaki as the team's top prospect.

Willander is the team's best prospect, and it isn't close.

Not only that, I think it’s Canucks responsibility to maximize Lekk’s value and to trade him now for defensive help. The more pro games he plays, the more I worry his warts will be more apparent.

 

[arttk]

Not only that, I think it’s Canucks responsibility to maximize Lekk’s value and to trade him now for defensive help. The more pro games he plays, the more I worry his warts will be more apparent.

You guys need to chill out about trading Lekk. Would trade like most of our picks over trading Willander or Lekk and I think you guys are seriously over thinking how much it will cost to acquire players at TDL.

 

[bandwagonesque]

We need those cheap elc contract/high skill guys to contend for a Stanley Cup as well.

None are coming in this window other than Willander. It's not a science and prospects come out of nowhere pretty regularly and change the fortunes of teams, but Lekkerimaki is definitely the first one traded unless he absolutely blows up this season.

It really depends on how Lekk trends, if he is killing it he is just as valuable as Willander.

If my grandma had wheels she'd still be dead but it would be highly irregular and arbitrary.

 

[Ernie]

Makes no sense at all to be trading either player. They can contribute for cheap while the Canucks are in their window. Lekk has the higher bust potential but also the higher upside. You don't trade away the prospects you selected with your high picks while you were in rebuild - they have the potential to help you extend your contention.

 

[MS]

Makes no sense at all to be trading either player. They can contribute for cheap while the Canucks are in their window. Lekk has the higher bust potential but also the higher upside. You don't trade away the prospects you selected with your high picks while you were in rebuild - they have the potential to help you extend your contention.

Willander has much more upside than Lekkerimaki. Top-pairing RD are worth a fortune.

 

[Ernie]

Willander has much more upside than Lekkerimaki. Top-pairing RD are worth a fortune.

No players are worth more than elite goal scorers. Lekk has a natural talent you can't teach. Not saying he is a better prospect, he has a ways to go and we've seen plenty of his type flame out completely.

 

[MS]

No players are worth more than elite goal scorers. Lekk has a natural talent you can't teach. Not saying he is a better prospect, he has a ways to go and we've seen plenty of his type flame out completely.

Lekkerimaki is not an elite goal scoring prospect. Elite goal scoring prospects aren't struggling to find their feet in the AHL in their draft+3.

Brock Boeser actually was an elite goal scoring prospect and compare where he was at at the same age.

 

[Quinning]

I wouldn't trade Willander for 2 Lekkerimakis and I find it so strange that the media seems to nearly unanimously have Lekkerimaki as the team's top prospect.

Willander is the team's best prospect, and it isn't close.

Ideally you want someone like Lekk to be your 4th best prospect.

The fact that he's 2nd says that our pool is bottom half of the league, if not bottom 10.

 

[Ernie]

Lekkerimaki is not an elite goal scoring prospect. Elite goal scoring prospects aren't struggling to find their feet in the AHL in their draft+3.

Brock Boeser actually was an elite goal scoring prospect and compare where he was at at the same age.

Kid can definitely shoot and almost made the team out of camp. He's played two AHL games after having some kind of health problems so maybe hold off on the judgment for now. Looks like the entire team is struggling to score.

 

[Ernie]

I'd bet nearly anything that if this team is in serious contention mid-season, Lekkerimaki and the 1st are gone and Willander isn't.

I'll take that bet. Winner gets to choose the losers' avatar for the remainder of the season?

 

[MS]

Kid can definitely shoot and almost made the team out of camp. He's played two AHL games after having some kind of health problems so maybe hold off on the judgment for now. Looks like the entire team is struggling to score.

I didn't think he was anywhere close to making the team out of camp. He had one pretty good preseason game and then a couple of absolute nothing ones.

Right now what I see is an undersized perimeter player.

He's a good prospect, to be sure, and maybe he'll score 30 goals in the NHL someday but I'll reserve 'elite goalscoring prospect' for the guys who are actually doing elite things by their draft+3. Like Boeser was, as an example.

 

[arttk]

If my grandma had wheels she'd still be dead but it would be highly irregular and arbitrary.

Don’t use jokes that are made famous by celebrities?

It’s weird and premature to assume that Lekk doesnt have the capability to do so. Are we writing him off because he had an illness to start the season?

 

[bandwagonesque]

Don’t use jokes that are made famous by celebrities?

It’s weird and premature to assume that Lekk doesnt have the capability to do so. Are we writing him off because he had an illness to start the season?

You aren't addressing anything anyone has actually said. No one has written him off or has said he's incapable of being a goal scorer an the NHL level.