© Winslow Townson/Getty Images

VANCOUVER — Tom Willander was excited to see center Macklin Celebrini selected by the San Jose Sharks with the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, because it means the Vancouver Canucks defenseman prospect will get to battle his former Boston University teammate in the Pacific Division for years to come. 

Aiden, the older brother of Willander, Celebrini, and Macklin, played as a defenseman for the Canucks after being selected in the sixth round (No. 171) of the 2023 NHL Draft. They all started their college careers as freshmen teammates for the Terriers. Unfortunately, the Terriers lost 2-1 in overtime to the eventual national champion, the University of Denver, in the semifinals of the 2024 NCAA Frozen Four.

Willander, the No. 11 pick in the 2023 draft, confidently stated that his ability to face off against Macklin Celebrini in practice throughout the season has greatly enhanced his skills. Despite being only 19 years old, he eagerly anticipates the opportunity to compete with Celebrini in the NHL, although he refrained from disclosing any specific timeline for when this could occur.

“Having friends as opponents in a game is always an enjoyable experience,” Willander expressed. “Celebrini possesses remarkable skills as a player. I believe that competing against such individuals will contribute to my growth, especially when facing similar opponents in the future. Moreover, having a strong adversary like him demands complete concentration and effort to emerge victorious.”

After securing a three-year, entry-level contract with the Sharks on July 6, Celebrini is set to embark on his NHL journey this season. However, Willander prefers not to speculate on his departure from school at this point. With his excellent skating skills and right-handed shot, Celebrini will return to BU for his sophomore year, determined to build upon an outstanding 2023-24 season.

Willander successfully adapted to the smaller ice rink and quicker, more direct playing style upon his arrival from Sweden. In his 38 games, he contributed 25 points (including four goals and 21 assists) and achieved an impressive plus-28 rating, making him a valuable member of the Hockey East Second All-Star Team.

“Tom has truly left a great impression on us,” expressed Mike Komisarek, who became a part of Canucks player development in 2022 following an impressive 11-year tenure as an NHL defenseman. Throughout the previous season, he regularly met with Willander every other week. Komisarek added, “This young athlete exhibits exceptional competitiveness, remarkable agility, and his skills with the puck are unparalleled.”

Willander, standing at 6-foot-1 and weighing 180 pounds, has already increased his weight since his draft year. However, his main focus is on further enhancing his strength. Despite this progress, there is still potential for offensive growth. Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin has envisioned a potential “perfect fit” between Willander and Quinn Hughes, the Norris Trophy winner, due to his exceptional defensive skills and intelligence.

With Lane Hutson’s departure to the Montreal Canadiens on April 12, there will be an opening for him to move up to a top pair at school this season. Additionally, his impressive performance in the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship, where he contributed one goal and two assists in seven games, aided Sweden in securing a silver medal. This achievement further highlights his potential as a returning player, granting him more opportunities to grow.

In his second development camp with the Canucks earlier this month, Willander made quite an impression and now aims to replicate this success in his upcoming experiences in the NCAA and World Juniors. He firmly believes that his unique choice to come from Sweden and play on the smaller rinks in college hockey will undoubtedly provide significant advantages when he eventually transitions to the professional level.

Willander stated that he consistently approaches life on a year-by-year basis. He emphasized the significance of remaining humble and mentioned that he finds it most effective to progress gradually, one step at a time.