LATEST | NHL.com releases an article regarding the Canucks' latest pick: Tom Willander

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Felip Gosselin
July 19, 2023 (8:42 PM)

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The Canucks were ecstatic when they were given the opportunity to select the Swede defenseman Tom Willander with the 11 selection. From the team's scouts perspective, not only was he the top player available, he also precisely fit what the team needed.

A mobile two-way defenseman with decent size, he'll be taking the next step in his development at Boston University with another fellow Canucks' prospect, Aiden Celebrini and his brother Macklin, who's viewed has the early number one for the 2024 Draft.

The NHL.com panelists published their first article on the team's top prospect and it's quite promising for the future. Willander made the switch from forward to defenseman only two years ago, meaning there's lots of room for improvement still, especially since his defensive acumen was recognized as one of his best assets:

�'Willander's biggest asset is his skating, but he also impressed with his defensive acumen, physical play, competitiveness and a maturity that includes choosing to continue his development at Boston University this season rather than the more traditional path of staying home to play professionally in the Swedish Hockey League.''

The defenseman will definitely be spending the next season in the NCAA, if all goes well, he could be joining the Canucks as soon as March 2024 once the collegiate season ends. The Canucks view him as an essential part of their defense and if everything goes as planned, they'd have quite the defensive core with Hughes, Hronek, Willander and Soucy.