Vancouver Canucks finally sign Willander and here's when he'll make his pro debut
After a long negotiation, the Vancouver Canucks have signed top prospect Tom Willander.
The two sides have agreed on a three-year entry-level contract that begins in the 2025-26 season. Willander just wrapped up his second year at Boston University. He finished with 24 points and a +19 rating in 39 games.
The 20-year-old was expected to sign with the Canucks shortly after his NCAA season ended in early April, but that was not the case. The two sides disagreed over the Schedule A bonuses in the contract, resulting in a drawn-out process.
Canucks and Willanderâs camp had discussions over the weekend and VAN went from offering $783K in Schedule A bonuses to 800K today which got the deal done.
Both sides moved off their positions to make this happen
— Satiar Shah (@SatiarShah) May 14, 2025
Both sides compromised somewhat to make the deal happen. The final Schedule A bonus structure is as follows.
- Year 1: $500,000
- Year 2: $900,000
- Year 3: $1 million
Willander returned to Sweden after his NCAA season ended. It doesn’t appear that he will report to Abbotsford, where the AHL team is in the midst of a playoff run. However, he will have the choice. Instead, he’ll likely make his professional debut in the fall.
âWe are excited to have Tom under contract and for him to start his professional hockey career,â said Canucks GM Patrik Allvin in a press release. âOur group has watched him closely the past couple of seasons and have been impressed with his progression and growth in the NCAA.”
“Now is the perfect time for him to take the next step and join our organization. The hard work starts this summer, and we look forward to seeing where Tom is at this September at training camp.â
The Canucks originally picked Willander with the 11th overall selection in the 2023 NHL Draft. He’s a rangy, two-way blueliner who projects as a top-four player at the NHL level.
Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford has said he believes Willander could make the NHL team as soon as next year. However, the organization’s relatively deep blue line could make it difficult for the Swedish player to crack the full-time roster right away.
With Willander, Elias Pettersson, and Victor Mancini, the Canucks have a trio of young defencemen who look ready to make an impact at the NHL level. With such pressing needs up front, it’s only logical to wonder if one could be packaged in a trade for a forward.