Tom Willander Scouting Report

Vancouver drafted Willander in the first-round (11th) at the 2023 entry draft in Nashville. The right shot defenceman can do it all. He's best described as a 'two-way/transitional' defenceman. Willander is an elite skater with high end hockey sense. He angles his checks to the perimeter very well. He's quick to space in all three zone. He can walk the offensive blue line to open up lanes to get pucks on net or distribute to the flanks.
Willander will be one of the Swede's top four defenceman at the WJC. Look for him to be, primarily, deployed at even strength and the penalty kill. Possibly some power-play clean up duty.