Tom Willander
When Can Newly-Drafted Prospects Break Through Into The NHL?
When do or can prospects make the jump to the NHL/AHL level? Most NHL prospects take 3-5 years post-draft to reach the NHL, with less than a third of first-rounders making an NHL team. Factors like skill development and individual progression dictate the timeline. Additionally, a strict NHL-CHL agreement impacts where prospects can play, depending on age. Any player under the age of 20 is ineligible to play in the AHL. NHL Entry Draft intricacies, entry-level contracts, Russian political issues and AHL stints shape a prospect’s journey.
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Rising Star Tom Willander: A Promising Addition to the Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks’ newest prospect, Tom Willander, made a significant impression during the latter half of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft process. His outstanding performance in the J20 playoffs and the U18 World Championship captured the attention of both fans and experts alike. Throughout the draft process, it was widely believed that the Canucks focused on […]
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Who Was Selected on Day One of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft
The 2023 NHL Entry Draft has all of the hype surrounding it, here at Inside The Rink, a group of multiple writers wrote prospect profiles throughout a set period of time. Day one of the draft is upon us and the first 32 selections have arrived. 1st overall – Chicago Blackhawks With the first overall […]
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NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Tom Willander
Tom Willander is a steady and smooth right-handed defensive prospect out of Sweden who is eligible to be selected in the 2023 NHL draft. Born on February 9th, 2005, Willander has spent the last five seasons climbing the Swedish hockey ladder playing for three different organizations (Flemingsberg IK, AIK, and Rogle BK). In 2022-23, his […]
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