Looks like there’s more bad news for Vancouver Canucks fans waiting for the news of the signing of top Canucks prospect Tom Willander.
According to Donnie & Dhali’s Rick Dhaliwal, Willander has now reportedly left Boston College and returned to Sweden. Dhaliwal wrote on social media that Willander is set to join the Swedish national team on Tuesday to play in their upcoming exhibition matches.
The 6’1″, 190 lb. defenceman was drafted 11th overall by Vancouver in 2023, but has yet to sign his entry-level contract with the team. It’s unclear at this point what is holding up negotiations. Earlier this week, Dhaliwal spoke about his growing anxieties about where the Canucks organization is with Willander at this point.
“I’ve just got a bad feeling about where things are between the Canucks and Tom Willander,” said Dhaliwal. “Things with Willander, are very quiet right now. That he was seen attending classes at Boston University this morning, and he’s not on his way to Vancouver, he’s not on his way to Abbotsford? That’s not a good sign.”
Last Saturday, BU’s season came to an end as the Terriers fell to Western Michigan in the National Championship game, in their third consecutive Frozen Four finish without a national title. With the conclusion of their year, there was an expectation that Willander would sign with the Canucks, and potentially play in the NHL or AHL. And as the Abbotsford Canucks get ready for their Calder Cup run, they could certainly use a strong blue liner like Willander.
In CanucksArmy’s mid-season prospect rankings released in March, Willander was named the second-best prospect in the system for Vancouver, citing his “exceptional skating ability,” and “competitive edge.” In his sophomore season with Boston University, he had two goals and 22 assists for 24 points, just under his rookie total of 25.
With Willander now on his way to Sweden to get some reps in with the national team, it’s possible there may be a pin in this contract issue for the foreseeable future. Depending on where negotiations go, this offseason may force Canucks’ management to consider their options for Willander, including the possibility of trading his rights if he seems steadfast on not signing.
