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

This matched the eye test 100%
IMG_2147.jpeg
 
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The current Canuck options on the right side, are Hronek, Myers and Mancini.....although lately Tocchet has experimented with EP25 on his off-side.

So if Wilander shows anything, then there would appear to a spot for him on the NHL roster. But since the Frozen Four tournament doesn't start until April 10th......we'll probably have to wait until next season to find out.
He will get whatever he needs in terms of games to burn his elc year. Probably one of the 2 final games vs LV and SJ. As to whether he will earn a job full time at the start of next season, who knows. If his puck skills could use some more work, probably want to develop that more in the AHL first. If you can get some Offence from him, you do want to develop that.
 
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He will get whatever he needs in terms of games to burn his elc year. Probably one of the 2 final games vs LV and SJ. As to whether he will earn a job full time at the start of next season, who knows. If his puck skills could use some more work, probably want to develop that more in the AHL first. If you can get some Offence from him, you do want to develop that.

these are the only two games he could possibly get in (unless he quits on his team before the frozen four). he probably can't even make the game on the 14th realistically. his season ends on the 11th or 12th of april
 
these are the only two games he could possibly get in (unless he quits on his team before the frozen four). he probably can't even make the game on the 14th realistically. his season ends on the 11th or 12th of april
The tournament is in Stl. So I believe the SJ game which is #81. If BU falls in the semis he might make the Minny game on the 12th. Who knows if the Canucks are technically still in the race by then or not.

But fans will see him for a game even if it’s just the final vs LV.

His status is different than Quinn who needed a certain number of games to be played to burn the year. Not an expert on the exact rules. TW is like Boeser when he signed. 2nd year post draft and a pre Sept birthday.
 
Seems doubtful that Wilander will get any games in with the Canucks even if he signs, now that BU is in the NCAA Frozen Four.

But there's always Abbotsford. I wonder if the Canucks could sign him to an ATO, and assign him to Abby for the Calder Cup playoffs? Or whether they'd want to risk him to injury in the AHL?

Still, getting some minutes in the intense atmosphere of the AHL playoffs, could really give us a pretty clear idea of where his game is at.
 
Seems doubtful that Wilander will get any games in with the Canucks even if he signs, now that BU is in the NCAA Frozen Four.

But there's always Abbotsford. I wonder if the Canucks could sign him to an ATO, and assign him to Abby for the Calder Cup playoffs? Or whether they'd want to risk him to injury in the AHL?

Still, getting some minutes in the intense atmosphere of the AHL playoffs, could really give us a pretty clear idea of where his game is at.
Last 2 games are vs SJ and LV on the 14th and 16th. Frozen 4 is April 10 and 12 in STL. So, time is there for him to sign and get dressed for a game, even if that means the Nucks ice 7D. He's not signing an ATO.
 
Celebrini had a good game as well.

Hope Willander signs and plays a game or 2 then goes to abby.

He was good, the 2nd goal was his pairing and they played it poorly

Willander hasn't been the ice for a single all tournament.

McCarthy is still the weakest link by a country mile, eye test and underlying numbers say so, as he has been the ice for every goal in the tournament except 1
 
Celebrini had a good game as well.

Hope Willander signs and plays a game or 2 then goes to abby.
Is that possible? Like if I’m we sign him to a pro contract can he then go down to the AHL (since we didn’t paper him down)?

Honest question not necessarily directed at you.
 
Is that possible? Like if I’m we sign him to a pro contract can he then go down to the AHL (since we didn’t paper him down)?

Honest question not necessarily directed at you.

He either signs an NHL deal and plays only in the NHL this season. (No going to AHL for the playoffs.)

Or signs a PTO with abbotsford and plays for them to finish their season and playoff run, but cannot join Vancouver for their playoff run.
 
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The more I think about it the more I'm bracing for Willander to be the major piece going the other way in a summertime trade for center help. The Canucks have three young assets on defense -- Willander, D-Petey and Mancini. The latter two have been promising, but not nearly enough to have the cachet of a recent first-rounder who is still in the mystery box phase. So if you're hoping to get back something meaningful, adding them to the you-may-as-well-kiss-it-goodbye-now 1st rounder just doesn't move the needle enough. Willander can, and if you expect D-Petey can be 85% of the player Willander will (albeit on the other side) if not even more, it's something the team absolutely has to consider seriously.

Willander will probably be good, but he's (probably) not the type of player you kick yourself in the gonads for years later. If he tops out as a Forsling that sucks to lose, but it's the type of calculated risk teams make all the time, and the Canucks can better afford it now with a bit more depth on D than they had two months ago, and in particular with D-Petey trending to be much better than we assumed at the start of the year. Plus with D-Petey having shown his game at the NHL level already, there is a bit of a Monty Hall problem afoot where it becomes marginally safer to readjust your bets after having gained new knowledge, even if that knowledge wasn't about the thing you were previously betting on.
 
Allowing Wilander to burn off an entire year of his ELC by playing in the last two games on the season would normally be a bit of a stretch. But if might be a condition for getting his signature on a contract.

From a development standpoint, signing a PTO and playing in Abbotsford in playoff games would probably be far better for his development. But just can't see that happening either.

My best guess is that he gets into the last two games of the season, and hopefully gets a ton of ice-time.
 
The more I think about it the more I'm bracing for Willander to be the major piece going the other way in a summertime trade for center help. The Canucks have three young assets on defense -- Willander, D-Petey and Mancini. The latter two have been promising, but not nearly enough to have the cachet of a recent first-rounder who is still in the mystery box phase. So if you're hoping to get back something meaningful, adding them to the you-may-as-well-kiss-it-goodbye-now 1st rounder just doesn't move the needle enough. Willander can, and if you expect D-Petey can be 85% of the player Willander will (albeit on the other side) if not even more, it's something the team absolutely has to consider seriously.

Willander will probably be good, but he's (probably) not the type of player you kick yourself in the gonads for years later. If he tops out as a Forsling that sucks to lose, but it's the type of calculated risk teams make all the time, and the Canucks can better afford it now with a bit more depth on D than they had two months ago, and in particular with D-Petey trending to be much better than we assumed at the start of the year. Plus with D-Petey having shown his game at the NHL level already, there is a bit of a Monty Hall problem afoot where it becomes marginally safer to readjust your bets after having gained new knowledge, even if that knowledge wasn't about the thing you were previously betting on.
the other guy coming our way will be.....?
Kent johnson? -please not Sillinger
Barzal? -not Horvat again

to trade a guy, a mystery box you say, with that high a floor, playing that rare a position, being compared to Brodin/McAvoy/Faber. You better get a full blown 1C thats about to take off back, someone like Jarvis would be ideal, but they dont need a Willander.
 
the other guy coming our way will be.....?
Kent johnson? -please not Sillinger
Barzal? -not Horvat again

to trade a guy, a mystery box you say, with that high a floor, playing that rare a position, being compared to Brodin/McAvoy/Faber. You better get a full blown 1C thats about to take off back, someone like Jarvis would be ideal, but they dont need a Willander.
Exactly as it sounds more like a trade the Canucks really need because of the total lack of centers in their depth charts and prospects more than reality but who knows stranger things have happened.

I still wish we had traded Brock for the canes first rounder this year.
 
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Exactly as it sounds more like a trade the Canucks really need because of the total lack of centers in their depth charts and prospects more than reality but who knows stranger things have happened.

I still wish we had traded Brock for the canes first rounder this year.
if EP and Hughes didnt get hurt, I believe the race to the wild card will come down to the wire in part also because of Brock's clutchness. Injuries fell our whole season, but yeah, in hindsight, getting that second rounder for Brock is better than nothing.
 
The more I think about it the more I'm bracing for Willander to be the major piece going the other way in a summertime trade for center help. The Canucks have three young assets on defense -- Willander, D-Petey and Mancini. The latter two have been promising, but not nearly enough to have the cachet of a recent first-rounder who is still in the mystery box phase. So if you're hoping to get back something meaningful, adding them to the you-may-as-well-kiss-it-goodbye-now 1st rounder just doesn't move the needle enough. Willander can, and if you expect D-Petey can be 85% of the player Willander will (albeit on the other side) if not even more, it's something the team absolutely has to consider seriously.

Willander will probably be good, but he's (probably) not the type of player you kick yourself in the gonads for years later. If he tops out as a Forsling that sucks to lose, but it's the type of calculated risk teams make all the time, and the Canucks can better afford it now with a bit more depth on D than they had two months ago, and in particular with D-Petey trending to be much better than we assumed at the start of the year. Plus with D-Petey having shown his game at the NHL level already, there is a bit of a Monty Hall problem afoot where it becomes marginally safer to readjust your bets after having gained new knowledge, even if that knowledge wasn't about the thing you were previously betting on.

If he refuses to sign or somehow see's himself blocked by Tyler freaking Myers on the right side or something then fine.

But after 3 years of getting told to pound sand whenever he called to ask about a RHD, there is no way Allvin doesnt hold a right side of Hronek, Willander and Mancini over every other GM until theyre all established and HE has had a chance to tell others to pound sand for a bit.

He had to claw and scrape for Hronek and Mancini while passing on Benson to draft Willander himself. There's no way Allvin isnt closing the RHD chapter of this book forever.

Now he just joined the "needing top6 center" queue instead.
 
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The canucks this year will have 8 D-men who play 30 or so NHL games for them this year. There is no need to move Willander just because they have a few other blueliners. Far from it given he's a RHD. There will be plenty of NHL ice to go around the next couple of years while the Myers deal expires. Now if those youngsters truly make a push it's the vet they are pushing that should be moved. Don't move the cost controlled guys on the back end. At least not yet.
 
If he refuses to sign or somehow see's himself blocked by Tyler freaking Myers on the right side or something then fine.

But after 3 years of getting told to pound sand whenever he called to ask about a RHD, there is no way Allvin doesnt hold a right side of Hronek, Willander and Mancini over every other GM until theyre all established and HE has had a chance to tell others to pound sand for a bit.

He had to claw and scrape for Hronek and Mancini while passing on Benson to draft Willander himself. There's no way Allvin isnt closing the RHD chapter of this book forever.

Now he just joined the "needing top6 center" queue instead.
It is so hard to acquire RHD. They don’t know what Mancini can do in the nhl as a full time player. They have 1RHD whom they drafted from the oil kings last draft. I don’t think there is another one outside of that. It was either the Oil Kings kid or the Swiss kid that was a right shot.

1C rarely get moved. Unless there is an underlying issue they won’t get moved for a package of kids.
 
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It is so hard to acquire RHD. They don’t know what Mancini can do in the nhl as a full time player. They have 1RHD whom they drafted from the oil kings last draft. I don’t think there is another one outside of that. It was either the Oil Kings kid or the Swiss kid that was a right shot.

1C rarely get moved. Unless there is an underlying issue they won’t get moved for a package of kids.
the only realistic trade with Willander is for a center prospect around the same age or slightly younger. basically one super magic bean for another super magic bean.
 
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the only realistic trade with Willander is for a center prospect around the same age or slightly younger. basically one super magic bean for another super magic bean.
If you're trying to match a Jones/Johansen type move, Nash was in a better position due to their depth on D, with Webber and Ellis on the right side. CBJ really didn't have the C depth behind RyJo to compensate.

Van not exactly loaded at RHD. Myers is done after 2 more seasons. Mancini is a complete wildcard.
 
If you're trying to match a Jones/Johansen type move, Nash was in a better position due to their depth on D, with Webber and Ellis on the right side. CBJ really didn't have the C depth behind RyJo to compensate.

Van not exactly loaded at RHD. Myers is done after 2 more seasons. Mancini is a complete wildcard.
i think that's why I am more onboard with trading Dpetey over Willander since we have Hughes/MP already and potentailly KK and Mynio even though they don't have the ceiling DPetey has.

Also want to be super clear, if Dpetey goes, it's most likely in a 1st + Dpetey for a younger player that is already in the NHl or Dpetey + something more for a center prospect that has yet play in the NHL.
 
So my original point is that I don't think offering D-Petey as part of a package gets them whatever it is they will target this summer, so I'm increasingly thinking Willander is the card they play, however reluctantly.
What are your trade targets really? Who has the depth at C to give one up?

Everything falls under the win with Quinn window, which is basically next season as after that, he can sign an extension July 1, 2026. Not going into 26/27 with him on the final year of his contract.

Wallander seems like he should start the season in the A next year. He sounds like he needs work on puck skills. Better for him to learn to take chances in the A rather than play it safe in the NHL. Like Mentychuk of the Jackets, likely was going to find his way onto the Jackets at some point this season, but started in the A. He was an interesting case as he has a July birthday, thus if he spent less than half this season in the NHL, he wouldn't become a UFA until the year he turned 28 as he wouldn't have accrued this season towards UFA to give him 7 in the year he turns 27. He's now up to 36 games with 7 more left for CBJ to play so would then accrue this season towards UFA.
 
Buffalo and CBJ with Helenius and Lindstrom? They probably care more about competing now.

i think lindstrom is a very good prospect but he's played like 30 games in two years and is going to the ncaa next season. he doesn't nothing to help vancouver anytime soon
 

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