Prospect Info: Tom Willander: 11th Overall 2023 Draft (Rogle BK J20) - Part 02
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When he wants to he can take over offensively. Right now he’s taking a backseat with Hutson there and is playing the role of the stabilizing defensive presence on the team. That’s why you leave him there one more year and let him grow his game offensively with Hutson gone. The sky is the limit with his skating + IQ
Slavin, Lindholm, and Brodin are the best shutdown defensemen in the league, and legit top pairing guys.
If Willander becomes any of those 3, we got a steal at #11
Breakers
Make Mirrored Visors Legal Again
That goal is hilarious
slowest developing goal ever
every player on the ice looks like they can hardly stand up they are so exhausted
slowest developing goal ever
every player on the ice looks like they can hardly stand up they are so exhausted
And all three are pretty massively underrated.
His +/- is kind of insane.
He’s now a +13.
The next best on the team is a +9
The next highest d-man is a +4
Here is the +/- of all of the other d-men on the team:
Lane Hutson -3
Aiden Celebrini +4
Cade Webber +4
Case McCarthy +2
Ty Gallagher +3
Yes we all know +/- is a flawed stat, however relative to your own teammates there is always some useful info when used in context.
Those numbers above are especially impressive when you consider his age, he’s relatively new to the North American game, is stepping up in competition…
He’s now a +13.
The next best on the team is a +9
The next highest d-man is a +4
Here is the +/- of all of the other d-men on the team:
Lane Hutson -3
Aiden Celebrini +4
Cade Webber +4
Case McCarthy +2
Ty Gallagher +3
Yes we all know +/- is a flawed stat, however relative to your own teammates there is always some useful info when used in context.
Those numbers above are especially impressive when you consider his age, he’s relatively new to the North American game, is stepping up in competition…
Don’t want to take away the point you are trying to make but it’s not like there was anyone drafted immediately after or reasonably chosen over that is better than Brodin. It took Miller a while to be “as good” as Brodin and even longer to be “better than” Brodin.
His defense has been absolutely elite IMO.
You can see why he gets compared to Slavin. His ability to break up plays at such a young age is impressive. He's a human eraser out there.
Raistlin
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- Aug 25, 2006
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no such luck with the market hes drafted into. Everyone will sing his praises and he will be hailed Ohlund v2.
Diversification
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- Jun 21, 2019
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Context matters, I agree. But if we're walking around in a t-shirt that reads I spent my 11OA draft pick and all I got in return was a top pairing all-situations 30-40 pt dman, it almost doesn't matter what kind of career Zach Benson ends up having. It would be most first-world of first-world problems to gripe about.
Billy Kvcmu
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If he becomes the RH Slavin, he might just be the 2nd best player in the draft after Bedard and I’m not exaggerating
Will he be ready to jump in the team next year along with Lekkerimaki and Brzustewicz?
strattonius
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I love the comparisons to Jonas Brodin. Exactly what our blueline needs. 10 yr stable #2/3 dman that can PK and play a solid PP2. Hope that comes true. Brodin is the more talented version of Chris Tanev. He is one of the most under-rated players in the entire league.
It's a shame that we just got this guy and he's in his D+1. We need him now but he needs another year in college for sure.
Billy Kvcmu
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No, Lekkerimaki is the only realistic one
Willander can use another year in Boston
Brz is a project
Not a chance those three will be in the NHL next year.
But there is context. I'm all for rationalizing picks, but the fact is that when you bypass the consensus higher ranked player (and especially if you reach for a player), comparisons matter. I mean it would definitely would have mattered how Bourdon's career (RIP) would have turned out given we bypassed Kopitar.
And in the case of Brodin, he was 3rd ranked Euro and McKenzie had him #10 behind Murphy.
I think it does matter whether Willander ends up being better than Benson and ASP. That's not to say we can't end up being happy with the pick. Take Kesler. Initially there was no doubt that Richards was the better pick. And for most of their careers, Perry was the better player. In 2010-2011 though, Kesler would have been an untouchable here.
But yes if Willander turns out to be a top pairing Dman (he doesn't even need to offer much offensively) for a decade + here then I think most of us would be extremely happy.
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I prefer that over a potentially PPG forward in Benson, honestly. Harder to find these types.
Raistlin
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normally in a draft this loaded, I would not want to draft by need/archetypes, but its unlikely Canucks will draft as high in a while and the rarest of them all to acquire is a RHD with size and upside. So far, I trust what Pandolfo sees, and I am very happy with Willander regardless of how Benson or ASP turns out.
Tom Willander has made Team Sweden (Lekkerimaki and D-Petey were locks)
Eye of Ra
Grandmaster General of the International boards
Canucks fans are all team Sweden now?
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