Insider Reveals Where Vancouver Prefers Tom Willander to Finish the 2024-25 season
Photo credit: NHL.com
An insider has revealed where Patrik Allvin and the Vancouver Canucks would prefer to have top prospect Tom Willander finish the 2024-25 season after he signs with the club.
Vancouver Canucks fans are getting closer are getting closer to signing top prospect Tom Willander, which could come as early as this weekend, depending on if his team, Boston University, loses their regional final against Cornell and if they win, he won't be putting pen-to-paper until mid-April.
With the signing of Tom Willander coming soon, many have been wondering where he'll be starting out whether that be in the NHL with Vancouver or down with AHL Abbotsford and on Friday, we may have gotten that answer.
Insider shares where Vancouver Canucks prefer Tom Willander to finish 2024-25 season
In a recent article on The Athletic, Vancouver Canucks reporter Thomas Drance shared that the team would prefer Tom Willander to finish off the 2024-25 season in the American Hockey League with the Abbotsford Canucks.
If that ends up happening, Drance says that Willander will likely sign an ATO to play with Abbotsford for the rest of the 2024-25 season before his entry-level contract kicks in the fall.
Drance went on to add that it will give Willander an opportunity to play big minutes for Abbotsford at a crucial time in their season and will help the club in a big way during the Calder Cup Playoffs.
"According the team source, the Canucks' preference is to have Willander sign an entry-level contract that begins during the 2025-26 campaign. That would preserve an additional year on Willander's entry-level contract, and it means that Willander wouldn't join the Canucks' NHL roster on the conclusion of his college season. Instead he would join the Abbotsford Canucks and be eligible to compete in the Calder Cup playoffs." Drance said on Friday.
Having Willander down in the American Hockey League to get top-four minutes and experience, especially in the Calder Cup Playoffs, will help him in a big way ahead of training camp in September and his inevitable NHL debut at some point in early October.
Willander, 20, has had a pretty strong sophomore season in the NCAA with Boston University, putting up 23 points (two goals, 21 assists) in 36 games, including an assist in yesterday's 8-3 win over Ohio State.
The Stockholm, Sweden native and the rest of Boston University will take to the ice on Saturday against Cornell with a spot in the Frozen Four on the line. Puck drop is set for 1 pm PT and can be watched on ESPN+.
Source: Thomas Drance/The Athletic
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