Tom Willander: Vancouver Canucks' Rising Star

0:00It's April 29th. This is NHL News today, AI-powered updates on your team. I'm Corey with the story. Vancouver Connucks picked Tom Willender 11th overall back in 2023, eyeing him as a mobile rice shot defender to anchor their top. 4. Fast forward to the end of the 2025-26 season, and this 21-year-old sweet has gone from promising prospect to, full-on roster cornerstone after his rookie year. He suited up for 70 games amid the team's ups and downs, posting five goals and 21 points, solid for a guy focused on transition, and shut down duty rather than flash. Averaging nearly 17 minutes a night, he earned real trust on the ice, and by season's end, his defensive game locked in tight, poking pucks, away and funneling attackers to the walls. Coaches raved about his leadership too, even as a newbie. He kept the bench buzzing during rough patches, drawing from his world juniors and college. Days.

1:00That maturity stood out big time. During the Olympic break, while others chilled on beaches, Willender jetted home to Sweden for hardcore sessions with his strength coach, Sharpening. Those defensive edges, with a no-days off-grind, he's the perfect safety net for an offensive partner, primed to E-22 minutes nightly by 2027, build culture, and maybe snag A. Letter on his jersey soon, setting Vancouver's blue line straight for the long haul.