Starting to see why his offensive game is compared to Erik Karlsson while his defensive game has been called a better copy of Christopher Tanevs game
Prospect Info: Tom Willander: 11th Overall 2023 Draft (Rogle BK J20) - Part 02
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RobertKron
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- Sep 1, 2007
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Also heard that he’s been acting as player-coach, which is distracting him somewhat from performing to his potential on the ice.
What stands out to me or Wilander is his skating. It's something that just leapt off the page at Development Camp.
You can teach everything else once a kid reaches pro hockey. What you can't really teach is that level of elite skating ability.
For years, when we were projecting Canuck draft picks, particularly d-men, it was always tinged with a big dollop of hoping, wishing and blind optimism at times.
But watching those Wilander highlights, how can anyone doubt that not only will he play in the NHL sooner, rather than later.....but he has a chance to have an 'Alex Edler' kind of career for the Canucks.
You can teach everything else once a kid reaches pro hockey. What you can't really teach is that level of elite skating ability.
For years, when we were projecting Canuck draft picks, particularly d-men, it was always tinged with a big dollop of hoping, wishing and blind optimism at times.
But watching those Wilander highlights, how can anyone doubt that not only will he play in the NHL sooner, rather than later.....but he has a chance to have an 'Alex Edler' kind of career for the Canucks.
Fortunately for you, you seem to have missed the elite skating of Matt Bartkowski chewing up 20 minutes per night on our back end in 2015-16.
Impressive start. The more I watch the more I think he’s like Jake Sanderson. Just a 2-way monster. Hughes and him will make a fun pair.
Another assist
7 games
2 goals
4 assists
6 points
+4
On the season. Head and shoulder the best player on the ice whenever he plays.
7 games
2 goals
4 assists
6 points
+4
On the season. Head and shoulder the best player on the ice whenever he plays.
Look, I'm beginning to think my take that Willander will play a bunch of time in the AHL is very bad.
It's honestly crazy the improvements he has made.
Looks so much faster and stronger than last season. As impressive as his offensive output has been, he has been amazing defensively.
Billy Kvcmu
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He’s also quite handsome and that’s a prerequisite to play for us.
Breakers
Make Mirrored Visors Legal Again
He was literally playing on the left side on saturday for a ton of shifts
thats how much of a franking disaster the left side has been.
way too inexperienced
thats how much of a franking disaster the left side has been.
way too inexperienced
Beginning to wonder if Willander can play top 4 minutes next season. Can't rule it out.
This is the kind of development that this team really needs.
Frankly though, with Hronek and Myers slotted in the top six on the right side next year, if Willander makes the team, he probably will play "top four minutes" by virtue of his competition.
Also, as others have expressed, his development this year is very exciting and exactly the type of development you'd expect of a prospect of his nature that is tracking well.
thecupismine
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- Apr 1, 2007
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His profile & pedigree, the team's lack of two-way options, and the fact that RHD #5/6 doesn't need to PK much with Myers/Hronek anchoring the 1/2 spots, always boded well for him seeing minutes pretty much right away.
Would love to see them ease him in for the pk role and take some of those mins away from Hronek
thecupismine
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- Apr 1, 2007
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Don’t really think that’s a good idea. Hronek has probably been their best penalty killing dman so far, only one goal against in 10 games with the second most PK time next to Soucy.
The scoring chance data backs up that they’re significantly better with him out their on the PK as well. He’s really blossomed into the exact kind of guy they were hoping for next to Hughes.
23 minutes per game for a top pairing dman is reasonable. If anything, he’ll take time away from Myers at ES and a little on the PK when he makes the team, and play in the 13-15 minute range to start as he eases into things.
Thinking more from the perspective of less PK time means more energy for him to focus on offense.
