Tom Willander is having an eye-opening impact early in Vancouver Canucks career
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He started the season as the ninth defenceman on the Vancouver Canucks depth chart.
However, based on Tom Willander’s early foray into NHL action, it might be hard for the Canucks to remove him from the lineup.
The 11th overall selection from the 2023 NHL Draft has enjoyed an impressive, four-game stint ever since being recalled by the Canucks back on Oct. 28, following the injury to Victor Mancini.
Willander garnered ice time on both the power play and at 6-on-5 during his debut against the New York Rangers last week, and he’s continued to impress from there.
His speed has been evident, and so has his confidence. That culminated in him skating across the ice before getting his first NHL point on a goal from Brock Boeser Monday night.
Tom Willander picks up his first NHL point with an assist on Brock Boeser's goal! đ¨ pic.twitter.com/M0K40pLwYE
— NHL (@NHL) November 4, 2025
“I think he’s been playing some great hockey for us,” Boeser said following the win. “He’s stepped in and really has come up huge for us. I’m really happy for him.”
There were some adventures for Willander defensively during his first two appearances. However, in just a short period of time, the 20-year-old has managed to adapt.
Over the Canucks’ past two games against the Minnesota Wild and Nashville Predators, Vancouver has controlled 71.4 per cent of expected goals with Willander on the ice.
No other Canucks player is above 61 per cent, and that player was Willander’s primary partner from the game against the Nashville Predators, second-year blueliner Elias Pettersson.
Without Willander on the ice over the last two games, the Canucks have controlled just 35.4 per cent of expected goals.
Yikes.
Willander has helped the Canucks dominate their last two games in possession, even though he spent more than half of his even-strength minutes lined up against Kirill Kaprizov on Saturday.
On Monday, Willander continued to crush his minutes in a more sheltered, third-pairing role. Willander (20) and his partner Pettersson (21) are currently the two youngest skaters in the Canucks lineup.
Head coach Adam Foote mentioned why he believes Willander has been successful since debuting in the NHL one week ago.
“I like his poise with the puck, and [he has] some confidence.”
“He’s been playing good hockey for us lately.”
Not only has he been playing good hockey, but the Canucks have been far more effective with Willander on the ice over their last two games.