Not long ago, the Vancouver Canucks’ defensive depth felt like a glaring weakness, a void begging for reinforcement.

Today, the tune has seemingly shifted.

With the addition of Marcus Pettersson, the breakout of 21-year-old Elias Pettersson, and Victor Mancini’s surprising contributions, the blue line is swiftly rounding into form — for both the present and the future.

Add in the steady progress of prospects like Kirill Kudryavtsev and soon-to-be-20 year old Sawyer Mynio, and the Canucks’ backend is suddenly increasingly robust.

But the biggest boost may be imminent.

Tom Willander, Vancouver’s 2023 11th-overall pick and top defensive prospect, is reportedly nearing his entry-level contract (ELC) with the Canucks.

While nothing’s official until ink hits paper, reports suggest Willander and his agents had mapped out a two-year game plan, at which point he plans to take his talent to the professional ranks. With his sophomore season winding down, all signs point to that pivotal moment arriving soon.

The question now: when will Canucks fans see their prized right-shot defender in blue and green?

The answer is somewhat complicated and solely hinges on BU’s postseason run. Several scenarios could dictate Willander’s timeline, so let’s run through a “Tom Willander Roadmap.”

Despite slipping to third in Hockey East this season — after first- and second-place finishes the past two years — BU posted a respectable 46 points in 24 games this season. They also led the conference with 89 goals scored.

That performance earned them a bye into the Hockey East quarterfinals and a solid shot at the NCAA National Tournament, where Willander’s season could extend into April.

That third-place finish is essential, as that placement significantly impacts their odds of making the National tournament, with or without a Conference Title.

Let’s explain.

The NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament features 16 teams in a single-elimination format. Six spots go to conference tournament winners, including Hockey East’s champion.

The other 10 are considered “at-large bids” and are selected by the NCAA committee using the PairWise Rankings, a system that weighs team records, strength of schedule, and performance metrics.

As of mid-March 2025, BU is sixth in PairWise, making them a near lock for an at-large bid, win or lose, in Hockey East. Their quarterfinal opponent, UMass, ranks 17th, below the typical at-large cutline of 13th or 14th.

With the foundation set, let’s dive into a few scenarios and timelines.

BU faces UMass on Saturday, March 15, at 1:30 p.m. PT in the Hockey East quarterfinals.

An upset loss to the 17th-ranked Minutemen might nudge BU’s PairWise standing down from 6th, but plummeting below 14th — out of at-large contention — is highly unlikely.

In fact, so unlikely that this scenario should probably be ignored altogether. Their season-long resume of a rugged schedule and marquee wins all but guarantees an NCAA Tournament berth.

For Canucks fans itching to see Tom Willander sign, this scenario changes little as he’s still postseason-bound, whether BU claims the Hockey East autobid in the semifinals (March 20) or final (March 21) or settles for an at-large spot.

Our recommendation? Root for Willander to snag a Championship Title on his way out and the experience that comes with it; his Vancouver debut isn’t hinging on this game.

The NCAA selection show on March 23 will confirm BU’s fate, placing them in one of four regionals (Allentown for the East) from March 28 to 30.

These regionals are comprised of sixteen teams split into groups of four. The No. 1 seeds face the No. 4s, and the No. 2s meet the No. 3s in single-elimination games. Regional winners advance to the Frozen Four.

If BU loses in Allentown — say, on March 28 or 30 — Willander could sign as early as April 1, freeing him to join Vancouver or Abbotsford immediately.

For those on the team, “get Willander to Vancouver,” this is the best-case scenario, as it leaves several weeks of both Vancouver and Abbotsford’s regular season schedule for him to soak up some experience before his inaugural playoff stint.

If BU wins its regional, they’ll advance to St. Paul for the Frozen Four, with semifinals on April 9 and the championship on April 11.

A loss in the semis would free Willander to sign as early as April 10; a title-game defeat would delay it to April 12.

With Vancouver’s regular season ending on April 16 and Abbotsford’s on April 19, this scenario leaves a tight window to join either squad before their playoffs. Depending on Vancouver’s standings — currently jockeying for a postseason spot — Willander might be better suited debuting in Abbotsford as an inexperienced pro.

There’s no set rule for how quickly NCAA players sign ELCs after elimination. Top prospects often ink deals within days to burn an ELC year in the NHL/AHL, while others wait months to plan their next step.

As still a sophomore, Willander could return to BU for another year, but his trajectory suggests a 2025 signing. The big question, after that, is where? Whether he joins Vancouver or Abbotsford remains to be seen. But rest assured, the system is on the brink of inheriting a massive boost to the right-side backend.

For now, Canucks fans should sit back, and cheer Willander on as he gains invaluable experience as a sophomore stalwart.

He’ll be in the system within the next calendar month.