Canucks: Three explanation why Tom Willander was the appropriate draft decide

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The Vancouver Canucks have launched their behind-the-scenes draft video, and like most years, it incorporates some fascinating nuggets about their course of.

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Within the 2023 version, there may be heavy emphasis on why they had been so impressed by Tom Willander, a lot so that they didn’t need to danger shedding the possibility to draft him by even buying and selling again two spots with the Buffalo Sabres — which had been reported in a couple of locations, together with on this newspaper, however which the video clearly confirmed was a chance.

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The Canucks have made it clear they had been very impressed by Willander in his interview on the draft mix, and extra importantly by the best way he performs the sport.

“I might see him being a man who can eat numerous minutes and play with Quinn Hughes and utilized in a shutdown function due to the best way he skates and his I.Q. There’s undoubtedly an pleasure from our employees,” GM Patrik Allvin stated on the draft.

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Willander stated he fashions his sport after Miro Heiskanen, the Dallas Stars’ No. 1 defenceman. That’s a sensible mannequin for a younger participant.

Postmedia spoke with scouting analysts and several other nameless NHL scouts. Primarily based on these conversations — the scouts have been given anonymity so they may remark freely — listed below are three explanation why Willander was the appropriate choice for the Vancouver Canucks.

Skating

The number-one energy in Willander’s sport is clearly his skating.

“It’s a tough ability,” one of many scouts identified.

“His skating. It’s critical,” Elite Prospects’ Cam Robinson added.

“Skating,” one other scout concurred.

“I believe he’s, all-around, the most effective skater on this draft class,” Shane Malloy instructed Sportsnet 650 final month. “His skating skill creates a lot time and area.”

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If there’s one ability you’ll be able to level to that provides any prospect an even bigger likelihood to make it as an NHLer, being a powerful skater is high of the record.

“Along with his skating skill and assertiveness, there’s actually a reasonably strong flooring guess on his upside, however I don’t assume the final word ceiling is immense,” a 3rd scout stated, with a be aware of warning. “I like him effectively sufficient. He’s actually a very good prospect.

“There’s some ‘late riser’ concern to him, however truthfully I believe he ought to’ve been extra extremely regarded a lot ahead of he ultimately was.”

Good defender

Scouts see a participant who is superb when he doesn’t have the puck.

“He’s an exceptionally clever defender, in-zone and transition alike,” Elite Prospects’ J.D. Burke stated.

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“Whenever you add the truth that he’s each robust and expert bodily and relentlessly competes for each puck — he’s a nightmare to play in opposition to,” Elite Prospects declared of their draft information.

Utility

“He can play in any kind of sport, particularly playoff hockey. I believe he has that over (David) Reinbacher,” one scout stated, evaluating Willander to the defenceman taken fifth general by the Montreal Canadiens.

“I believe his possible greatest case is a No. 3 minute-eater who performs first-unit penalty-kill and possibly sees some PP time,” one other stated.

All this positivity, there are some considerations. Listed below are two:

Hockey IQ

“Hockey sense,” one scout stated was an apparent flaw.

A transformed winger, Willander has solely been enjoying as a defenceman for 2 seasons, so he’s nonetheless studying the place. Clearly, the Canucks consider this received’t be a difficulty as he develops into an NHL defenceman, beginning at Boston College this season.

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“His skill to adapt on the push and bounce into area on the proper time,” Robinson stated. “Extra confidence and ability growth wanted.”

One of many scouts stated: “Along with his skating skill and assertiveness there’s actually a reasonably strong flooring guess on his upside, however I don’t assume the final word ceiling is immense.”

Restricted offensive upside

“He has proven restricted offensive output to this point and there’s little motive to recommend there’s untapped upside in that a part of the sport,” Burke stated.

That is the largest knock in opposition to Willander. He was the top-scoring defenceman on Rogle’s J20 group — 25 factors in 39 video games — however he’s not seen as an distinctive puck handler or inventive attacker when he does have the puck.

And Willander himself is conscious of this flaw.

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“For me, I believe my offensive facet is my weakest one proper now, and this subsequent yr it’s one thing I’m seeking to construct up,” he stated after being drafted by Vancouver.

“I don’t assume he’s expert sufficient or has robust sufficient imaginative and prescient to essentially drive NHL offence from the blueline, and I’m wondering if he’s going to have the ability to distribute pucks with sufficient effectivity to essentially drive play in a top-4 function too,” one of many scouts added.

“It could’ve been much less egregious in the event that they hadn’t handed on Zach Benson to get him. I believe this decide goes to look very dangerous in three to 5 years. However to be clear that’s by no fault of Willander’s. He’s a high quality prospect who I’d be very completely satisfied to have in my pipeline”

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