GDT: WJC 2024 Thread

[Canucks LB]

I don't see him being a top 2 defensive defencemen in the NHL personally.

I don’t think you’ve watched much of him honestly, and I’m not taking this as a shot or anything.

He has literally every attribute that a top defender needs.

His hockey IQ is on point, he skates extremely well, he has size, he has a great shot, but it’s a wrist shot.

He’s great with his stick, he defends well, I don’t know what you don’t like about him honestly

 

[Nucker101]

That that’s a decent comparison also, but I think he’s a better skater than that.

I’m completely convinced he’s gonna be a star for us, I think he has 50+ point potential also once he develops his slap shot

Brodin is a very good skater imo, even Oilers fans say he's one of the better dmen against McDavid.

I think the Brodin comp is pretty bang on.

 

[LemonSauceD]

Willander looks like the best defender in the tournament honestly.

I don’t think that’s even a hot take, ASP has been averaged since that first game

He’s just incredible. I can’t wait to see him in a Canucks uniform, probably as soon as March.

ASP for the most part has looked a bit off with his positioning and hasn’t really commanded control of the game aside from Game 1. I thought maybe it’s the smaller rink so I looked at his history and he’s only played 7 games on NA ice in his career, and that was his first world juniors tournament in Halifax in 23’.

 

[ManVanFan]

I don’t think you’ve watched much of him honestly, and I’m not taking this as a shot or anything.

He has literally every attribute that a top defender needs.

His hockey IQ is on point, he skates extremely well, he has size, he has a great shot, but it’s a wrist shot.

He’s great with his stick, he defends well, I don’t know what you don’t like about him honestly

Probably 50 games over the past 2 years I've watched him play. I like to watch college hockey. I guarantee you aren't closing to watching that.

Because I don't think he's going to be a top 2 defensive defender in the NHL means I don't like him. GTFOH

 

[MS]

I don't see him being a top 2 defensive defencemen in the NHL personally.

Why not?

Depends on if he plays with him or not

It will still be very difficult. Hronek is probably more talented than Willander offensively and he probably isn't going to manage it.

 

[Canucks LB]

Probably 50 games over the past 2 years I've watched him play. I like to watch college hockey. I guarantee you aren't closing to watching that.

Because I don't think he's going to be a top 2 defender in the NHL means I don't like him. GTFOH

No, I understand, I apologize. I did not know you watched him that much.

It’s very odd considering everybody I’ve talked to, and from what I’ve seen, his development this season has been just fantastic, he’s getting better at a pretty rapid pace.

Honestly, I think let’s just agree to disagree on this one

 

[SelltheTeamFrancesco]

I don't really understand the concept of having to tear down ASP to build Willander up. They both probably end up being good NHL players just in different ways. I have liked both of there tournaments.

 

[Canucks LB]

I don't really understand the concept of having to tear down ASP to build Willander up. They both probably end up being good NHL players just in different ways. I have liked both of there tournaments.

Both are great prospects, but I don’t think anybody is tearing down ASP, by saying he was average since the first game.

Willander has been outstanding.

 

[ManVanFan]

No, I understand, I apologize. I did not know you watched him that much.

Honestly, I think let’s just agree to disagree on this one

Brodin and Slavin are probably 1-2 in defensive defencemen in the league. I can't see him ever being that close to a top 2 defensive defencemen in the NHL.

If I broke down parts of his game, he defends in transition like Gustav Forsling. He defends in zone like Justin Faulk. Transitions the puck like Filip Hronek. I don't know what kind of offence I see out of him, It looked a bit like Neal Pionk at one point. You put that together that's a top pairing defender.

 

[Quinning]

We need Willander on this team yesterday. Allvin is a f***ing idiot if he trades the kid, with the OEL hit coming they need an ELC top 4 defenceman and he could get there in his rookie season.

 

[MS]

Brodin and Slavin are probably 1-2 in defensive defencemen in the league. I can't see him ever being that close to a top 2 defensive defencemen in the NHL.

If I broke down parts of his game, he defends in transition like Gustav Forsling. He defends in zone like Justin Faulk. Transitions the puck like Filip Hronek. I don't know what kind of offence I see out of him, It looked a bit like Neal Pionk at one point. You put that together that's a top pairing defender.

Ah, I thought 'not a top 2 defensive defender' was saying you didn't think he could be a top pairing guy.

If you don't think he can quite be at Slavin level, fair enough.

 

[StickShift]

Willander’s weakest shift of the tourney came at the end of that game. Blew a tire at the offensive blue line and turned the puck over, lost the puck battle in the corner, and then took a penalty in front of the crease (they called the wrong Swedish player).

Sweden overall looked pretty terrible in that third period. Shouldn’t have let Switzerland get off the mat.

 

[LemonSauceD]

The only real challenge Sweden has is the US and even still with ASP and Willander back there, US are going to have trouble against them.

Gonna be a repeat of last years finals me thinks but this year is probably Sweden’s best shot to win it all.

 

[credulous]

Probably 50 games over the past 2 years I've watched him play. I like to watch college hockey. I guarantee you aren't closing to watching that.

Because I don't think he's going to be a top 2 defensive defender in the NHL means I don't like him. GTFOH

right there with you. he's not assertive enough or physical enough to be a dominant defender. he's a good transition defender but he's weak on the boards and struggles defending players with size. relies on his stick too much in his own zone

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

only half watched the second half of the game but he did not look good in the third

looked good on the PP in the second

 

[Canucks LB]

only half watched the second half of the game but he did not look good in the third

looked good on the PP in the second

Everybody in Sweden looked awful in the third honestly

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

Everybody in Sweden looked awful in the third honestly

yeah but i guess i’d expect a premiere overage dman to stabilize and slow down the game when the wheels are falling off, not chase the play like everyone else (tbf i’m just talking about two weak shifts, one of which was on the PK)

again i was only half watching but ASP looked like he was taking over his end of game shifts

 

[ahmon]

Brodin and Slavin are probably 1-2 in defensive defencemen in the league. I can't see him ever being that close to a top 2 defensive defencemen in the NHL.

If I broke down parts of his game, he defends in transition like Gustav Forsling. He defends in zone like Justin Faulk. Transitions the puck like Filip Hronek. I don't know what kind of offence I see out of him, It looked a bit like Neal Pionk at one point. You put that together that's a top pairing defender.

to me thats the biggest takeaway from watching Willander this WJC, I don't like his in zone defending at all. Disappointed, because I liked the pick. It was between Willander/Perreault/Wood, that I wanted the canucks to draft.

I feel his defending in zone hasn't improved much since his draft. I was expecting him to be more physical - doesn't look like he added much weight/size since his draft.

 

[ManVanFan]

right there with you. he's not assertive enough or physical enough to be a dominant defender. he's a good transition defender but he's weak on the boards and struggles defending players with size. relies on his stick too much in his own zone

I think he's a very good positional defender along the boards, knocking the puck away and then using his frame to get between opposing player and puck. He's not going to bash you like Trouba or Manson would.

 

[Deeds26]

I feel his defending in zone hasn't improved much since his draft. I was expecting him to be more physical - doesn't look like he added much weight/size since his draft.

Still at 6'1" since draft.
At draft he's listed at 179lbs
On BU's roster for this year he is at 191lbs, so added 12lbs

For context, Hronek is 6'0" and 190lbs as listed on Canucks roster.

 

[ManVanFan]

to me thats the biggest takeaway from watching Willander this WJC, I don't like his in zone defending at all. Disappointed, because I liked the pick. It was between Willander/Perreault/Wood, that I wanted the canucks to draft.

I feel his defending in zone hasn't improved much since his draft. I was expecting him to be more physical - doesn't look like he added much weight/size since his draft.

That's an issue for a lot of NHL defencemen still to be honest. Haha. When Nashville had their great D core of Josi, Eklhom, Ellis, Subban. When they got caught in their own zone it was a nightmare. They transitioned well and were great at moving it forward, when they could. That's why comparing him to Brodin and Slavin something that I don't think is right. Those two are very good at all aspects of in zone defending. Maybe Willander gets there. He's 19.

 

[Nucker101]

to me thats the biggest takeaway from watching Willander this WJC, I don't like his in zone defending at all. Disappointed, because I liked the pick. It was between Willander/Perreault/Wood, that I wanted the canucks to draft.

I feel his defending in zone hasn't improved much since his draft. I was expecting him to be more physical - doesn't look like he added much weight/size since his draft.

I feel like this coaching staff should help with that. I’d more concerned if his transition defense sucked.

 

[ManVanFan]

Finland giving the USA all they can handle.

Finns!!!!!!!!

 

[ManVanFan]

I feel like this coaching staff should help with that. I’d more concerned if his transition defense sucked.

You don't want to have OJ 2.0? Lol

 

[Nucker101]

You don't want to have OJ 2.0? Lol

Oh God don’t remind me, watching that guy pivot was so painful.