SportsHockeyCanucks

Canucks GM says Willander is turning down money to go back to school

Rob Williams
Rob Williams
|
Apr 21 2025, 10:48 pm
Canucks GM says Willander is turning down money to go back to school
Fia McCarty/Boston University

Where in the world is Tom Willander?

We thought he’d be in Vancouver or Abbotsford by now but the Vancouver Canucks’ top prospect still isn’t on his way to the west coast. This is despite the fact that the AHL playoffs start Wednesday in Abbotsford and his NCAA season at Boston University concluded more than a week ago.

According to a pair of reports, the 20-year-old right-shot blueliner has flown back to his native Sweden. Cam Robinson of Elite Prospects notes that this doesn’t necessarily mean he won’t join Abbotsford at some point, but clearly it’s not a good sign. CHEK’s Rick Dhaliwal added that Willander will join the Swedish national team to play exhibition games.

Willander could have joined the Canucks for their final two games of the NHL season, though that would have burned a year on his yet-to-be-signed entry-level contract. The two sides couldn’t agree on Schedule A bonuses, per Thomas Drance of The Athletic.

There is an option to sign an amateur tryout contract to play games with Abbotsford right away, with the entry-level deal kicking in for the 2025-26 season.

But it hasn’t happened.

During Monday’s season-ending press conference at Rogers Arena, Patrik Allvin told reporters that Willander intends to stay at Boston University. In doing so, he would be passing up signing an NHL contract.

“It’s a lot of money for a young player to pass on,” Allvin said. “But that’s the information we had here as of last week from his agent, that the intention was to go back to school. We’ll continue to work with Tom.”

Allvin insisted that he has a “great relationship” with Willander and noted that the young defenceman will attend development camp this summer.

The Canucks are surely hoping that this is a bluff from Willander’s advisor, given they believe the young defenceman is ready to turn pro right now.

The Canucks have a lot riding on Willander, who they chose 11th overall in the 2023 draft. The 6-foot-1, 191-pound blueliner projects as a top-four defenceman who excels at skating and defending.

Willander scored 24 points (2-22-24) in 39 NCAA games last season, his second year with Boston University. He added five points (2-3-5) in seven games with Sweden at the World Juniors.

ADVERTISEMENT