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

[StreetHawk]

Honestly I don't mind this if you think you're a true contender, and we looked like one for a large chunk of last season.

The picks hemorrhage during the Benning years is something else entirely imo.

Just means you need to nail the ones you kept, which sadly they didn’t.

 

[MS]

wish this regime will hit on more players beyond the first round though. Hoglander is really the only success story. EP(D) can be. I fall asleep wishing we have the level of success Gaglardi has with his scouting dept.

This is the full list of players taken in rounds 2-7 since this regime took over who are playing regularly in the NHL in 24-25 :

Lane Hutson

Nobody has established hits in that range right now. Dallas' picks rounds 2-7 actually look worse than ours.

 

[credulous]

This is the full list of players taken in rounds 2-7 since this regime took over who are playing regularly in the NHL in 24-25 :

Lane Hutson

Nobody has established hits in that range right now. Dallas' picks rounds 2-7 actually look worse than ours.

matt poitras? tristan luneau?

victor mancini, isaiah george and seamus casey too, with asterisks

 

[MS]

matt poitras? tristan luneau?

victor mancini, isaiah george and seamus casey too, with asterisks

4 of those 5 guys are currently in the AHL and George is only in the NHL because NYI has 3-4 defenders injured.

 

[IComeInPeace]

In case this hasn’t already been posted/referenced from Drance’s Athletic article yesterday:

“The Canucks are also delighted about Tom Willander’s progress this season, and his evolution as a more comfortable and dynamic attacking presence from the back end in his sophomore season at Boston University. The club will likely push to sign him after the conclusion of his NCAA season.“

 

[VanJack]

In case this hasn’t already been posted/referenced from Drance’s Athletic article yesterday:

“The Canucks are also delighted about Tom Willander’s progress this season, and his evolution as a more comfortable and dynamic attacking presence from the back end in his sophomore season at Boston University. The club will likely push to sign him after the conclusion of his NCAA season.“

Given the holes on the Canucks blueline, it would have to qualify as a 'big disappointment' if he isn't signed and in the Canuck lineup by mid-March.

 

[Raistlin]

I hope he signs, but I dont really need him to suit up full time for the big club until 2026 playoff run.

 

[MS]

Odds of him signing and going straight onto our roster at the end of the season are probably 98%.

 

[beachcomber]

Odds of him signing and going straight onto our roster at the end of the season are probably 98%.

I'm bullish on this kid so I'll say 99%. Lol. He will be a stud.

 

[Raistlin]

Odds of him signing and going straight onto our roster at the end of the season are probably 98%.

what will most likely happen and what I wish will happen is so often divergent IRL.... overcooking Edvinsson and Faber proved to be a good call.

 

[RobertKron]

Odds of him signing and going straight onto our roster at the end of the season are probably 98%.

Yeah, IIRC that's basically what his coach said the plan was before last year.

IMO, basically for any player of this profile it's a sign that something has gone sideways if they're not coming out at the tail end of their second season out there. Not necessarily a disaster, but that tends to be the path.

 

[Raistlin]

Yeah, IIRC that's basically what his coach said the plan was before last year.

IMO, basically for any player of this profile it's a sign that something has gone sideways if they're not coming out at the tail end of their second season out there. Not necessarily a disaster, but that tends to be the path.

I think defensive dmen should have an adjusted timeline than say wingers. but I get that the big club is literally dying for the services of a guy with his profile.

 

[RobertKron]

I think defensive dmen should have an adjusted timeline than say wingers. but I get that the big club is literally dying for the services of a guy with his profile.

I mean obviously every case is going to be different, but regardless of position I can't think of many guys over the past decade or so taken in the top half of the first round who spent more than two seasons in the NCAA. That seems to overwhelmingly be the development path for players in which teams are investing top picks. I'd imagine it's at least in part because if a team is spending a top pick on a player, they think they're basically pretty close already and they expect that player to be ready to move into a pro schedule sooner than later.

Edit: I looked and going back to 2010, unless I missed someone (which is entirely possible as I didn't look super hard), it's just Derek Forbort (15OA 2010) and I guess Matthew Wood (15OA 2023 - if you count him, since he played his first NCAA season his draft year and is still there now in his D+2).

 

[logan5]

Damn. 6 goals scored for B.U. in a win over Merrimack, and Willander not 1 point.