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

[Breakers]

Willander with a great assist on the empty netter

Moving on

 

[Raistlin]

He's going to the final. BU already won the Beanpot. These guys are pretty good.

 

[Breakers]

I’ve been tough on BU on the season as they couldn’t win a weekend series and were so inconsistent
Dropped as low at 14th in the nation

But they seemed to have found their footing this tournament

Willander still hasn’t been on the ice for a goal against this tournament

BU is seen as an underdog already against the broncos

He was strong. But stable, and led BU in TOI, but isn’t “noticeable”
He was probably rocking a 95% controlled exit percentage all by passing
He never carried the puck out

 

[credulous]

I’ve been tough on BU on the season as they couldn’t win a weekend series and were so inconsistent
Dropped as low at 14th in the nation

they started winning when yegorov showed up and they stopped playing caron. the devils look like they got a pretty good prospect in net

 

[Breakers]

they started winning when yegorov showed up and they stopped playing caron. the devils look like they got a pretty good prospect in net

They also were more consistent when they stopped taking a billion frigan penalties a game

It was ridiculous how many penalties they took.

 

[Canucks LB]

I watched the second half of the game
Willander is everything defensively I thought he would be with my eye test.
Offensively I don’t see much creativity, I don’t know if that’s on purpose, coaching, or talent.
But I can’t get over how well he skates for his size, he’s easily gonna be a top four D

 

[LemonSauceD]

As others have said, he’s just super poised with the puck. His skating ability is just incredible and his defensive ability is even better. The games I’ve seen him play including this one, I don’t recall a single time he’s been on the ice for a goal against. And he just shuts shit down in his own end and goes about his business. He’s like the PERFECT linemate for Hughes. There’s absolutely no way you trade him for anyone.

He reminds me of Anton Stralman.

 

[SelltheTeamFrancesco]

Just finishing watching BU vs PENN ST. Willander impressed me he plays a pro style game, one of the most mature defensive games I have seen from a prospect. Has a lot more confidence than he did last year, there was play where he going back to get an icing call and he easily beat the PENN ST player and starts chirping as they are skating back almost like he was insulted the player thought he had a chance in the race.

His skating looks to have gotten even better, best skater on the ice and he makes it look effortless. I liked how quickly he finds ways to evade the forecheck with smarts plays whether its a quick pass or skating out of trouble. Maybe he makes the safe play in defensive zone a little too much but he never got hemmed in because of it. The best part of his game is his transition defence, his skating combined with his great defensive stick and positioning makes this the hallmark of his game.

Doesn't play a heavy game but occasionally he will take the body or get mean in the corner and it makes me wonder why doesn't he do it more often. While he is good at evading the forecheck I would like him to be more involved in transition especially skating the puck up the ice. I write this every time I watch him he needs to be more active and engaged in the offensive zone. He still has so much untapped potential offensively. I would like him to play in the AHL with the green light and let him develop that side of his game. I do think some of it is he knows his role on this team and is wary of straying from it.

 

[Bjornar Moxnes]

As others have said, he’s just super poised with the puck. His skating ability is just incredible and his defensive ability is even better. The games I’ve seen him play including this one, I don’t recall a single time he’s been on the ice for a goal against. And he just shuts shit down in his own end and goes about his business. He’s like the PERFECT linemate for Hughes. There’s absolutely no way you trade him for anyone.

He reminds me of Anton Stralman.

Strålman was one of the three best defensive dmen of the early to mid 2010s along with Hjalmarsson and Vlasic.

 

[LemonSauceD]

Strålman was one of the three best defensive dmen of the early to mid 2010s along with Hjalmarsson and Vlasic.

Yup. Thats what I see from Willander. I see other comparables such as Hamhuis and Brodin but he doesn’t exactly have the frame that Brodin has and doesn’t have the same offensive chops Hamhuis had. I don’t think Willander really has the offensive mindset in his game even if there might be room to grow there. And they both played a bit of a heavier game than Willander does.

Strålman was an amazing albeit undersized defensive dman and Willander fits the same sort of profile in my opinion anyway.

 

[Diablo2020]

I hope Tom realizes being a homegrown RHD that profiles as Anton Stralman will literally make him a legend in Vancouver and how we've been chasing this profile for a decade.

I hope he realizes we fully embrace every one of Filip Hronek flaws, not a single poster ever complains about his crazy long deal, and the dude doesnt even have to talk to the media or fans because we've been that deprived of quality RHD.

I hope he realizes even as a 30 point defender, it'd only take 7.5 years to break into the top 10 ALLTIME here compared to others and he could be ROH even with a middling career.

*edit Tyler Myers is one point from being top 20 alltime Canuxks defenseman scoring. Tyler. Myers. Top 20. Awful.

 

[PuckMunchkin]

Canucks Central

Dan Riccio and Sat Shah have you covered with the most comprehensive Canucks show on the air. The only real choice for the die-hard Canucks fan and the home for Post Game reaction and analysis after every Canucks game.

www.sportsnet.ca

So I listened to the willander interview, and i like to trust my instinct on things, they seem to be right more often then wrong.

Now it could really be as how he is saying, he just wants to focus on the frozen four and the tournament.

But his answer when asked about Vancouver, and how he answered it, especially the last part.
Man, I just got a really bad feeling honestly, Even tho the words came out fine, and it could just be his personality and how he is, but he seemed to have a genuine lack of excitement in his answers, especially the one about the Canucks.

Just keeping an eye on this honestly.

I think it is always a good idea to try to not read too much in to the tone and cadence of a person who is speaking in his 2nd or 3rd language.

 

[HockeyWooot]

Jonas Brodin 2.0? Many felt Brodin didn’t have enough offensive upside to warrant 10th OA pick in 2011.

Fast forward to today and he’s been consistently one of the best defensive dmen in the league and one of the Wild’s most valuable players.

 

[Bjornar Moxnes]

Jonas Brodin 2.0? Many felt Brodin didn’t have enough offensive upside to warrant 10th OA pick in 2011.

Fast forward to today and he’s been consistently one of the best defensive dmen in the league and one of the Wild’s most valuable players.

Brodin is the modern defensive defenceman being exceptionally good in transition, which is one of Willander's strengths. Brodin's 5on5 production is also solid.

 

[ManVanFan]

He's going to the final. BU already won the Beanpot. These guys are pretty good.

I think you mean Mikhail Yegorov is good.

 

[credulous]

I think you mean Mikhail Yegorov is good.

he really bailed out their season. they were going nowhere before he joined midseason

 

[ManVanFan]

he really bailed out their season. they were going nowhere before he joined midseason

Yeah they were. Has helped that Sascha has taken a massive step forward on the second pair there.

 

[Vector]

I think it is always a good idea to try to not read too much in to the tone and cadence of a person who is speaking in his 2nd or 3rd language.

Swedes tend to have a very deadpan way of talking as well.

 

[Szechwan]

Swedes tend to have a very deadpan way of talking as well.

This was my take as well. I'm a bit surprised someone in this market where we've all watched hundreds of hours of Naslund, Sedin, Pettersson interviews has not picked up on that

Not to pick on you LB!

 

[sandwichbird2023]

Strålman was one of the three best defensive dmen of the early to mid 2010s along with Hjalmarsson and Vlasic.

No Tanev?

 

[Vector]

I was really hoping he would lose, sign, and report to the AHL today. I'm going to the last two Canucks home games (tonight and tomorrow) and was hoping to get a glimpse at him live for the first time.

 

[Ernie]

I think it is always a good idea to try to not read too much in to the tone and cadence of a person who is speaking in his 2nd or 3rd language.

It seems unlikely that his "advisor" would have him talking to Vancouver media if he wasn't planning on signing. Obviously his focus right now is winning a championship, as is should be.

 

[Ernie]

I was really hoping he would lose, sign, and report to the AHL today. I'm going to the last two Canucks home games (tonight and tomorrow) and was hoping to get a glimpse at him live for the first time.

Hopefully he'll be on the ice to start the playoffs.

 

[Diversification]

Swedes tend to have a very deadpan way of talking as well.

To add to that, it’s just the prudent response. You don’t want it getting back to your teammates, coaching staff or even BU fans that your thoughts are anywhere other than the biggest game of the year with only hours left before puck drop.

 

[VanJack]

If the stats for Quinn Hughes' time with Michigan U is any indication, you really can't judge much from the stats of young d-men playing in the NCAA.

This is particularly true of 18-19 year-olds playing against much older players. I think a lot of those younger players tend to play it a lot safer, either because of 'coaching' or 'confidence'.

Call it just a gut feeling. But I think Wilander will be a lot more prominent and effective as pro, than he was as a college hockey player.