After weeks of reports, the Vancouver Canucks have officially signed defensive prospect Tom Willander to a three-year, entry-level contract. Vancouver drafted the Swedish defenceman 11th overall in 2023 after a strong season in the J20 Nationell. Since being drafted, Willander has moved to North America and spent the last two years in the NCAA with Boston University. 

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Based on his development, Willander is currently the top prospect in the Canucks organization. Listed at 6'1", 190lbs, he is a right-shot, puck-moving defenceman who can play in all situations. Whether in the NCAA or at the World Juniors for Sweden, Willander played big minutes and was a difference-maker on a nightly basis. 

Vancouver Canucks Sign Tom Willander To A Three-Year, Entry Level Contract The Vancouver Canucks have signed 2023 first-round pick Tom Willander to a three-year, entry-level contract. The right-shot defenceman has played the last two seasons at Boston University, recording 49 points in 77 games. The contract carries a cap hit of $950,000 with a potential AAV of $1.75M

As mentioned, Willander was relied upon heavily this season at Boston University. Of the 39 games he played, he only dipped below 20 minutes on four occasions, while logging over 25 minutes 10 times. During those 39 games, Willander recorded 24 points while finishing his final NCAA season with 57 blocked shots. 

While Willander does have room to grow, he looks ready to make the jump to the pro game. He recently played for Sweden at the Betano Hockey Games and looked impressive playing beside new teammate Marcus Pettersson. Ultimately, Willander is able to adapt to his surroundings and continually shows confidence whenever on the ice.

If Willander's play in 2024-25 is any indication, there is a good chance that he will be on the NHL roster to start next season. While Vancouver does have a strong projected defence core for 2025-26, Willander's puck-moving ability would give them a dimension they don't really have when Quinn Hughes is not on the ice. As mentioned, he still needs to round out his game, but overall, he should be able to help the roster next year. 

As for the AHL, that is also an option for Willander next season. Instead of throwing him right into the NHL, the organization could take a few months to help him develop more, while teaching him the system. Even if he starts with the Abbotsford Canucks, it would not be surprising if he received a full-time call up during the season. 

In the end, Willander is the best defensive prospect that the Canucks have drafted since Hughes. He can log top-pair minutes and has shown over the past few years that he can be used in a matchup role. Whether he makes the NHL roster out of camp or spends some time in the AHL first, Willander has the potential to be a key piece in the organization, not just next season, but for years to come. 

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