The Vancouver Canucks are a middling team to date within the 2025-26 season, which is why they try to spark their roster by calling up prospect Tom Willander from the Abbotsford Canucks. Willander had an outdoor probability at making the team out of coaching camp, however the front office believed he needed some more development within the AHL. After an injury to former Recent York Rangers’ defenseman Victor Mancini in Sunday night’s win over the Edmonton Oilers, Elliotte Friedman reported that Willander is getting the decision to be his substitute against his old team.
“We’ll see obviously at morning skate,” Friedman posted on X, formerly often known as Twitter. “But looking like NHL debut tonight for the 2023 first-rounder.”
Mancini was only within the lineup on Sunday due to a lower-body injury to captain Quinn Hughes. With the Canucks teetering on a .500 record, they’re eager to fill the gaping hole left by Hughes. Willander won’t be ready for full-time duty with Vancouver, but they may very well be throwing him into the fireplace on Tuesday night.
Willander was a star offensive defenseman at Boston University for the past two seasons. He recorded 49 points in 77 games with the Hockey East powerhouse and elected to sign his entry-level take care of the Canucks on the conclusion of last season. Willander has dressed for five games within the AHL up to now this yr, recording a goal and an assist.
Willander offers the Canucks one other fleet-footed blueliner who excels at walking the road and creating space for his teammates within the offensive zone. While his defensive play is underrated, his ability to get physical isn’t. He doesn’t appear like essentially the most dominant presence at 6-foot-1, 190 kilos, but he throws whatever weight he has around. He won’t give the Rangers anything easy on Tuesday night, and he might win over head coach Adam Foote together with his relentless work ethic.