It appears that Canucks top prospect Tom Willander will not be reporting to the team as recent reports suggest there is an issue over bonus pay negotiations.
Boston University’s Tom Willander saw his campaign on Saturday conclude, but the Vancouver Canucks’ brightest hope is not yet headed to the NHL.
The 20-year-old Swedish defenseman, who was taken with the 11th overall pick at the 2023 NHL Draft, was a dead certainty to sign with Vancouver after his college season concluded, just as the franchise did with Brock Boeser in 2017 and Quinn Hughes in 2019.
Boeser and Hughes played their first game in the NHL shortly after NCAA action concluded. Willander helped BU to the NCAA National Championship Game, where they ultimately lost to Western Michigan.
The defeat froze any potential transition to Vancouver, though he was still able to play for the Canucks in their final two games of the regular season.
Many other NCAA players have been signed by their respective NHL clubs
Wednesday night’s home game against San Jose would have been his debut. Instead, Willander remains unsigned, unlike many of his NCAA contemporaries who’ve already signed on in the pros.
Contract bonus negotiations are said to be the reason for the delay. In any case, he may sign with the AHL Abbotsford Canucks on an amateur tryout and reserve his entry-level contract for next year.
Willander had a good freshman season, notching 24 points (2 goals, 22 assists) in 39 games for BU, with five points in seven games for Sweden during the World Juniors.
Abbotsford, en route to the playoffs, wraps up the regular season in a three-game road trip this week. They’ve been scorching hot, winning 13 straight and 14-2-1 since March 1.
The Vancouver Canucks, meanwhile, complete their own regular season Wednesday night against the Vegas Golden Knights at home.