The Vancouver Canucks entered the 2023 NHL Entry Draft with some distinct needs in their prospect pool. One of the biggest was the right side of their defence, where they don’t have a single surefire NHL prospect in their system.
It’s no surprise, then, that the Canucks used their first pick in the draft, 11th overall, on a right-side defenceman. It’s even less surprising that the Canucks went to Sweden for that pick, taking the smooth-skating Tom Willander.
What is perhaps a little surprising is who they passed on to take Willander. With teams in the top ten making some surprising picks, including Russian defenceman Dmitri Simashev sixth overall and centre Nate Danielson ninth overall, Zach Benson — one of the most talented forwards in the draft — was available.
Willander grew up as a fan of the Canucks because of Daniel and Henrik Sedin, watching them from Sweden.
“From being small, I always looked up to this team. Seeing the logo up on the screen made me nostalgic, to be honest,” said Willander. “It’s a big honour.”
While many draft rankings saw Willander as a late first-round pick, there are those in the prospect world who believe that Willander could be the best defenceman in the draft.
It starts with his skating, as he has incredible four-way mobility, which he uses to give opponents absolutely no space on the ice. With his mobility, reach, and intelligence, his gap control is impeccable.
“He’s always engaged defensively, using his dynamic posture and evasive footwork to guide attackers away from the middle and break up plays along the boards,” reads his scouting report from Elite Prospects. “When you add the fact that he’s both strong and skilled physically and relentlessly competes for every puck – he’s a nightmare to play against.”
What stands out to scouts is his puck retrievals, as he’s phenomenal at tracking dump-ins, winning races, and throwing deception at forecheckers to quickly escape and turn the puck the other way. Those retrievals could make him a puck possession beast in the NHL.
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The question for Willander is if he can do enough offensively to be a true top-pairing defenceman. He showed more offensive creativity at the World Under-18 Championship, putting up 8 points in 7 games, and he has the tools to put up points, with crisp passing
Even if that offence doesn’t come, Willander is the type of smooth-skating, two-way defenceman that can eat up major minutes. He’s a safe bet to at least be a second-pairing defenceman, with the potential to match up against the best players in the NHL. It’s the possibility of him becoming an all-around threat that makes him a compelling pick for the Canucks.
“He’s an everywhere-on-the-ice player – defensive zone, offensive zone, in transition, penalty killing, power play, against the best players,” said TSN’s Craig Button, who had Willander ranked 8th overall on his final draft board.
Willander is on his way to Boston University to develop in the NCAA rather than staying in Sweden. That eagerness to jump across the pond to North America early suggests a certain mindset from the young defenceman.
“They’re getting a person who really wants to make change. I’m a driven person,” said Willander. “I really want to make this a great decision for the Vancouver Canucks.”
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
