Tom Willander | D

[stawns]

3 minutes ago, Kenny Blankenship said:

Thought he had a solid game today. Good skater, closes gaps quick, lays the body efficiently, doesn’t get beat wide, and made some solid outlet passes. Clearly gets put out there to play no nonsense hockey and I thought he did a solid job of it. Not much to complain about. 

 

I thought he was ok, but didn't do a whole lot.  Hrs still a pretty young player on a team of veteran players, so it stands to reason that he won't get a lot of ice time or responsibility.  Next year will be his big year at this tourney.

[Bob Long]

24 minutes ago, stawns said:

I'm not doing anything different.  When the team of players play poorly, I say so.  When I feel the team should move in another direction, I say so.  

 

I don't ridicule people for having different opinions, nor do I try to shout those people down when they do.

 

For some of you, the move to this platform has changed how you post and how you treat other posters, of which you are one.  You used to have good points and could weigh people's opinions.......now you just whine incessantly when other people have opinions that differ from yours

 

 

incessantly? 

 

I watch your posts for things that won't happen. Like your take on Boeser. It pleases me that you're low on Willander, means he'll win a Norris. 

[Rekker]

Nice game by all our prospects. I love Willanders side to side and quick turns and pivots. Very pro like.

[27 Percent]

3 hours ago, stawns said:

Wasn't overly impressed with his game today, but he wasn't bad either.......just invisible 

It's crazy to think this post gets picked out, yet fans have already crowned lekkermaki the next bossy.

[higgyfan]

First game.  He'll pick it up. Lost his d-partner in the beginning of the game and ended up playing

a lot of minutes for a 3rd pairing player.

[DeltaSwede]

5 hours ago, 27 Percent said:

It's crazy to think this post gets picked out, yet fans have already crowned lekkermaki the next bossy.

You mean Alf? 

[Boudrias]

14 hours ago, higgyfan said:

 

Wolanin is 28yrs now and has had many chances at the NHL; just can't seem to make it stick.

Maybe Woo will get his turn, as he continues to improve his game.  He's yet to get a

chance in the NHL, so perhaps he will get a call-up in the future.

 

I think D-Petey might play another year in Sweden, if he can make the jump to the SweHL;

if not, I hope he joins the Abby C's.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if Willander stay with his college team and like Brock, make his

move to Vancouver (Abby or Van ist TBA).

 

So yeah, we'll probably have to wait another couple of seasons to see those to join the big

club.  I think it's probable that both players will have NHL careers.

I was disappointed when D-Petey did not stick in the SHL. I can understand why they lent him out as TOI has more value than sitting in the bench. I can see him playing another year in Sweden in the SHL. A kid that big playing on the Canucks would be a sight to see. 

[Sativika]

14 hours ago, stawns said:

Wasn't overly impressed with his game today, but he wasn't bad either.......just invisible 

 

14 hours ago, stawns said:

 

He definitely did not play "fantastic".  He didn't play good and he didn't play bad.......he wasn't noticeable either way, which isn't necessarily a bad thing 

 

14 hours ago, Kenny Blankenship said:

Thought he had a solid game today. Good skater, closes gaps quick, lays the body efficiently, doesn’t get beat wide, and made some solid outlet passes. Clearly gets put out there to play no nonsense hockey and I thought he did a solid job of it. Not much to complain about. 

 

I echo these sentiments as well. Wilander didn't stand out like his other Canuck draftees, but his kinda' invisible presence equates to a solid, uh.... un showing if you will.

Kid's barely out of high school age; in his first WJC and it's great he was selected to be in the team.

 

Kid's got skating skills and great hockey IQ. But I believe he's not known as an offensive dynamo. Not that he's a definitive defensive defensemen; more that he's probably gonna be paired up with a Huggy or Maker type d man. A great compliment to a top pairing D. He's a keeper for sure!

 

12 hours ago, Rekker said:

Nice game by all our prospects. I love Willanders side to side and quick turns and pivots. Very pro like.

 

A great skating D is always a plus. RT and his HOF assistants will shore up any of his shortcomings. Our future is in good hands!

 

[DeltaSwede]

Another game, another solid performance by Willander. He's playing his part and doing it really well. Great decision making, puck control and we got to see some flashes of his elusive skating. 

[Hogs and Podz]

4 minutes ago, DeltaSwede said:

Another game, another solid performance by Willander. He's playing his part and doing it really well. Great decision making, puck control and we got to see some flashes of his elusive skating. 

Would you say he looks more confident and comfortable on the left side compared to the last game?

[DeltaSwede]

1 minute ago, Hogs and Podz said:

Would you say he looks more confident and comfortable on the left side compared to the last game?

 

I'm not sure he ever looked uncomfortable to begin with. It felt like he spent more time on the right side this game. 

[27 Percent]

Is Tommy eligible to play in the WJC next year 

[Hogs and Podz]

1 minute ago, DeltaSwede said:

 

I'm not sure he ever looked uncomfortable to begin with. It felt like he spent more time on the right side this game. 

Fair enough... That's really impressive to me.  Being able to adjust so quickly and be effective.  How was his TOI and +/- in comparison to other d on the team?

[PureQuickness]

On 12/26/2023 at 3:37 PM, stawns said:

Wasn't overly impressed with his game today, but he wasn't bad either.......just invisible 

 

He's not a very flashy player. He's just a reliable two way defenseman (currently a stay at home type). Not really known for offense (though he admits he'll work on this area and that there's room to grow here), but his defensive game doesn't have any question marks. He's not a 'sexy' pick like Hughes. In many respects, he'll be like Woo, except Woo probably has a slight physical edge. Woo needs to make the NHL at some point though. Meanwhile, Willander looks like he'll be the fail safe in case Woo doesn't make it.

 

This looks pretty damn good though for what he's done.

 

Edited December 28, 2023 by PureQuickness

[DeltaSwede]

7 minutes ago, Hogs and Podz said:

Fair enough... That's really impressive to me.  Being able to adjust so quickly and be effective.  How was his TOI and +/- in comparison to other d on the team?

I've been impressed for the same reason. 
 

[Tusk]

14 minutes ago, Hogs and Podz said:

Fair enough... That's really impressive to me.  Being able to adjust so quickly and be effective.  How was his TOI and +/- in comparison to other d on the team?

dEP and Letterkenny looked like NHL players. Villanger not there yet, although he was safe and did his job. But no big hits, no risks

[DeltaSwede]

3 minutes ago, Tusk said:

dEP and Letterkenny looked like NHL players. Villanger not there yet, although he was safe and did his job. But no big hits, no risks

[Elias Pettersson]

29 minutes ago, 27 Percent said:

Is Tommy eligible to play in the WJC next year 

 

Yes.

[Rekker]

14 minutes ago, Tusk said:

dEP and Letterkenny looked like NHL players. Villanger not there yet, although he was safe and did his job. But no big hits, no risks

Willander gets around so effortlessly. He's strong. The smarts seem to be there as he's not chasing play. Quite the contrast from Juolevi at the World Juniors and live when I saw him play in Penticton. Juolevi looked and played like a pale slug when I watched him. Willander is young and for a player who just switched to D a few years back, looks to have some tools. 

 

 

Edited December 28, 2023 by Rekker

[Tusk]

5 minutes ago, DeltaSwede said:

Weak.... its almost like the only time Villanger even did something and someone hypes it as the best play of the day

[Tusk]

7 minutes ago, Rekker said:

Willander gets around so effortlessly. He's strong. The smarts seem to be there as he's not chasing play. Quite the contrast from Juolevi at the World Juniors and live when I saw him play in Penticton. Juolevi looked and played like a pale slug when I watched him. Willander is young and for a player who just switched to D a few years back, looks to have some tools. 

 

 

Maybe at a junior level. But he aint no Hughes.

I think dEP showed alot more size and confidence on the puck the whole game. Letterkenny was passing too much.

Against Canada, we will see the best of everyone and I predict Letterkenny gets at least 2 goals, and villinger gets at least a -2.

[Rekker]

9 minutes ago, Tusk said:

Weak.... its almost like the only time Villanger even did something and someone hypes it as the best play of the day

I'm not sure what you expect from Will. He was never drafted to be flashy, that's not his game, at least not yet. He's a good skating steady righty. Like a Cernak. Does Cernak stand out as flashy?

[Rekker]

1 minute ago, Tusk said:

But he aint no Hughes

Willander was never pinned to be a Hughes, not in any remote way, ever. 

[Bob Long]

31 minutes ago, Rekker said:

I'm not sure what you expect from Will. He was never drafted to be flashy, that's not his game, at least not yet. He's a good skating steady righty. Like a Cernak. Does Cernak stand out as flashy?

 

I don't understand why playing a solid mistake free game is now a bad thing? such odd takes on the kid. 

[Rekker]

4 minutes ago, Bob Long said:

 

I don't understand why playing a solid mistake free game is now a bad thing? such odd takes on the kid. 

I think some of these takes are viewed from younger eyes. Eyes that see hockey as a hilite reel,  rather than a 60 minute contest that involves hundreds of plays and battles and challenges.