logo
CanucksArmy has no direct affiliation to the Vancouver Canucks, Canucks Sports & Entertainment, NHL, or NHLPA
Contextualizing Tom Willander’s growth and impressive start: Canucks Conversation
alt
Photo credit: © Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Clarke Corsan
Dec 9, 2025, 14:00 ESTUpdated: Dec 9, 2025, 13:18 EST
Comments
On Monday’s episode of Canucks Conversation, David Quadrelli and Harman Dayal took a closer look at Tom Willander’s early-season rise and why his first stretch of NHL games has shifted the outlook on the Vancouver Canucks’ blue-line depth.
Coming out of camp, Willander wasn’t expected to make an immediate push. He’d shown flashes of what made him a first-round pick, but he also looked light and in need of reps. Harm began the discussion by noting how Willander’s jump out of the gates took him a bit by surprise. 
“Tom Willander has eight points in his first 19 NHL games as a defenceman. He’s exceeded my expectations, and it’s another sign of how well he’s holding up at the NHL level, which we didn’t necessarily think was going to be the case based on how raw he seemed to look in the preseason,” Harm said. “We were talking more about Mancini and D-Petey and what they were doing, so Willander was clearly the number three player in that conversation of young defencemen who could make an impact early. Now, he’s number one in terms of impact he’s making. D-Petey has had some downs with his defensive play; Mancini hasn’t been able to translate his playing style into NHL success yet, so it’s a positive storyline to have Willander making the impact he has been early on.”
The shift has been noticeable. Instead of simply surviving in sheltered minutes, Willander has looked comfortable handling pace, moving pucks cleanly, and keeping mistakes manageable. His touches are quick, he doesn’t overcomplicate plays, and he’s earned more rope from the coaching staff because of it.
But Harm was careful to stress that this run hasn’t been flawless.
“He’s still a work in progress – there’s been ups and downs,” Harm said. “There were moments, not as much lately but earlier in the year, when you could tell he needed to beef up in his net-front coverage; I think about the goal Winnipeg scored when they were in town and Adam Lowry just out-muscled him in front of the net. There’s some situations where he can be caught out of position in his own zone, nothing glaring recently, but that’s still a part of the game he’s learning.”
Those lessons are typical for young defencemen. Willander’s reads around the crease are still developing, and he can lose inside positioning when plays break down. The physical side of defending heavy centres will come with time, but for now, the Canucks have tried to keep him in spots where his skating and anticipation can shine.
That mobility is where Harm believes Willander already looks NHL-ready.
“Defensively, away from the puck, his best asset is rush-defending,” Harm said. “When we talk about areas he needs to work on and clean up, I’m referring more to in-zone coverage – around the net front, in the slot, etc. But when it’s one-on-one, there’s a puck carrier coming down on Willander, that’s arguably the most advanced part of his game so far. You see him snuffing out those kinds of plays, even when guys are coming at him with speed, because he has the agility to keep up with them, his timing on gapping up and poking the puck seems to be strong.”
That ability to control entries has been a major reason he hasn’t looked overwhelmed. When a young defender can kill rushes early, it cuts down on the extended defensive-zone shifts that often expose inexperience. Willander’s skating and timing have allowed him to stay ahead of plays, giving the coaching staff confidence to keep rolling him out.
Offensively, his numbers have been modest but encouraging. Willander sits at one goal and seven assists through 19 games, including his first NHL goal in Saturday’s win over Minnesota – a night where he added an assist and looked more assertive jumping into plays.
For a player who entered camp viewed as a longer-term project, Willander has quickly become one of the more positive early-season surprises. The refinement will take time, but the foundation he’s shown has already changed expectations for what he can bring this year and beyond.
Sponsored by bet365

Canucks Conversation

Shows

Breaking News