​Welcome to the 2025–26 edition of The Hockey News Vancouver Canucks Player Report Card Series. Over the off-season, THN will take a comprehensive look at how every Canucks player performed during the 2025–26 campaign. Today’s feature spotlights defenseman Tom Willander.
Willander’s rookie season got off to a gradual start, but he finished strong and established himself as a positive, developing presence on the blue line. He began the year in the AHL with the Abbotsford Canucks, logging five games before earning a late-season call-up to the NHL. Once he got to the top level, Willander never looked back, posting five NHL goals and 21 points over 70 games in 2025–26.
As the season progressed, Willander earned more ice time and additional opportunities. His first 20-plus minutes of game action in a night came on January 3, and over the final 27 games of the year, his average time on ice stood at 20:08. He also contributed on special teams, finishing with 83:06 on the power play and 33:45 on the penalty kill. After the trade deadline, his confidence grew, and he became more assertive in both his play and his media availability, speaking candidly about ways he and the team could improve. Despite his youth, Willander emerged as a leader on the ice and in the room, consistently giving maximum effort.
Beyond his on-ice numbers, Willander logged 78 blocked shots, delivered 35 hits, and racked up 1,189:16 of ice time. According to NHL Edge, his skating speed was elite for a player of his experience: he ranked in the 84th percentile with a max skating speed of 22.52 mph, and his 18–20 mph bursts placed him in the 86th percentile with 347 bursts in that range. Those metrics underscored his dynamic skating ability and suggested a high ceiling for continued development.
Reflecting on the season, Willander’s potential and work ethic stood out. The Canucks benefited from his willingness to learn and to keep pushing his limits. His 21-year-old career thus far has already shown a trajectory toward becoming a core component of Vancouver’s defense, with the potential to anchor the top-four for years to come if his development continues along the current path. As he progresses under the guidance of Manny Malhotra and the team’s coaching staff, there is every reason to believe he can become a more stable, consistent presence on special teams and a dependable defensive cornerstone in future campaigns.
Overall, Tom Willander earns a B grade for the 2025–26 season. His rookie year showcased his readiness to adapt, his competitive nature, and his upside, all of which point toward a bright future with the Canucks. He will be a player to watch as he builds on this solid foundation in the 2026–27 season.