Canucks prospects: How long before Tom Willander signs with Vancouver?

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Vancouver Canucks fans wondering if defence prospect Tom Willander will sign with the team after this NCAA season is over will get a little more information on Wednesday.

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That’s when Willander and his Boston University Terriers teammates find out who they will be facing in Saturday’s Hockey East playoff quarterfinals. BU (12-8-4) finished third in the conference for the regular season, which gives them a bye for Wednesday’s opening round, and also means that on Saturday they will host the highest-placing team to advance. 

Wednesday sees Vermont (6-16-2) at Massachusetts (10-9-5), New Hampshire (5-14-5) at UMass Lowell (8-13-3), and Northeastern (7-14-3) at Merrimack (9-14-1).

The semifinals and championship take place March 20 and March 21, and are followed by the NCAA Regionals on March 27-30. The Frozen Four is is slated for April 10-12.

Willander, 20, was Vancouver’s first-round pick (No. 11 overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft, and the 6-foot-1, 191-pound right-shot rearguard from Stockholm is in his sophomore season at BU. There has been speculation for several weeks now about him leaving school and signing with the Canucks after this season is over — both Quinn Hughes and Brock Boeser joined Vancouver after their second seasons in the NCAA — and Willander’s family adviser Todd Diamond explained in an email last week that their plan is to discuss his future once the Terrier season is complete.

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The regionals feature 16 teams — six conference champions plus 10 selected on an at-large basis. BU remained at No. 10 in this week’s national rankings, so you would think they will be in the mix for an at-large berth if they don’t win Hockey East.

Boston College (18-4-2) and Maine (13-5-6) finished atop the Hockey East regular season standings. UConn (12-8-4) and Providence (11-8-5) finished fourth and fifth and will square off in a Saturday quarterfinal.

Willander remains in top spot in our Canucks top-10 prospects power rankings this week. Players must be born in 2000 or later and players currently at the NHL level aren’t eligible. Willander moved up one post last week to No. 1 because winger Jonathan Lekkerimäki was promoted from the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks to Vancouver.

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Last week’s rankings are in parentheses. All stats are as of Tuesday morning. Abbotsford is home Tuesday and Wednesday, hosting the Bakersfield Condors. 

1. Tom Willander, D, Boston University Terriers (1)

BU finished its regular season with an 8-2 win over Providence on Thursday and a 6-1 victory versus Vermont on Saturday. Willander (33-2-19-21) had an assist in the Vermont game.

2. Aatu Räty, C, Abbotsford Canucks (2)

Abbotsford (29-23-2-1) sits sixth in the 10-team Pacific Division, coming off a 3-0 loss to San Jose on Friday at home and a 5-4 triumph over San Jose on Saturday at home. The 22-year-old Räty, who is his team’s leading scorer, was held off the scoresheet in the San Jose doubleheader, although he did have a season-high seven shots on Friday. He was part of the January 2023 trade with the New York Islanders involving Bo Horvat.

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3. Sawyer Mynio, D, Calgary Hitmen (5)

The 19-year-old, who was a 2023 third-round selection, had two assists in 6-2 win over Swift Current on Friday and one assist in a 4-1 win over Brandon Sunday. Mynio has eight points (3-5) in his past six games. Calgary (41-15-3-3) is third in the WHL’s Eastern Conference and is at Edmonton on Wednesday.

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4. Kirill Kudryavtsev, D, Abbotsford (3)

The 21-year-old Kudryavtsev, who was a 2022 seventh rounder, is tied for second on the team in plus-minus (plus-six).

5. Arshdeep Bains, LW, Abbotsford (6)

The 24-year-old recorded an assist Saturday. Bains signed as a free agent in March 2022. 

6. Danila Klimovich, RW, Abbotsford (7)

He scored Saturday, giving him four goals in his last four games. The 22-year-old Klimovich was a 2021 second rounder. He is tied with Lekkerimäki for the team lead in goals. Linus Karlsson is next in line, with 18 goals in just 26 games. The 1999-born Karlsson also leads in plus-minus (plus-12).

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7. Riley Patterson, C, Barrie Colts (4)

Patterson was held off the scoresheet in three games last week. He was a 2024 fourth rounder. Barrie (38-20-2-2) is second in the OHL’s Eastern Conference. They were slated to play at Niagara on Tuesday and they are in Brampton on Friday.

8. Max Sasson, C, Abbotsford (9)

The 24-year-old had one goal and two assists Saturday. Sasson signed as a free agent in March 2023.

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9. Anthony Romani, RW, Barrie (10)

The 2024 sixth rounder put up two goals in a 7-4 loss to Saginaw on Thursday and then had one goal and one assist in a 7-2 loss to Sudbury on Sunday. Romani has 10 points (6-4) in his past six games. The 19-year-old was a 2024 sixth rounder.

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10. Ty Mueller, C, Abbotsford (8)

Mueller had four shots Saturday. The 22-year-old was a 2023 fourth rounder. 

sewen@postmedia.com

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