Tom Willander's development in rookie season

Tom Willander learned on the fly during his rookie season with the Vancouver Canucks, logging heavy minutes due to injuries and roster turnover. Willander played 69 games, recording 21 points, which includes five goals from just 3.41 expected goals.

His deployment was significant, averaging just under 17 minutes per night and spending 42 percent of his time in the defensive zone. He was paired predominantly with Marcus Pettersson, contributing to a 42.9 percent Corsi share and being outscored 35 to 22 at five-on-five.

Willander's skating ability, ranking in the 84th percentile for max speed and 86th for bursts, helped him navigate the NHL's pace, as he skated over 272 kilometers throughout the season. Although he struggled offensively, his shooting rate of 8.5 percent was above league averages for defensemen.

His final total of 21 points ties him for 16th in franchise history for rookie defensemen, suggesting potential for a solid future in Vancouver.