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More good news is coming out of Vancouver today, as just hours after announcing Adam Foote as the team's new coach, they also signed Tom Willander.
The Vancouver Canucks inked top-ranked defensive prospect Tom Willander to an entry-level three-year contract, just hours after announcing that Adam Foote was the team's new head coach.
'We are excited to have Tom under contract and for him to start his professional hockey career,' Canucks GM Patrik Allvin said in a team statement. 'Our group has watched him closely the past couple of seasons and have been impressed with his progression and growth in the NCAA. Now is the perfect time for him to take the next step and join our organization. The hard work starts this summer, and we look forward to seeing where Tom is at this September at training camp.'
Willander , from Stockholm, Sweden, was selected 11th overall by the Canucks during the 2023 NHL Draft. His intention to sign with the team was first reported by Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff in April.
The 19-year-old completed his sophomore season at Boston University. He had two goals and 22 assists for 24 points in 39 games, which led the Terriers to the NCAA championship game, where they lost to Western Michigan.
In his freshman year, the four goals and 25 points were accomplished in 38 games. In two years at BU, he totaled six goals and 49 points in 77 games and was a member of the NCAA Hockey East Second All-Star Team.
Willander was named the best college hockey player by Steven Ellis
Willander was rewarded for the year, being named by Daily Faceoff's Steven Ellis as one of his best players of college hockey for the 2024-25 season.
Globally, Willander has been a mainstay with Team Sweden. He accumulated eight points in seven games at the IIHF Under-18 World Championship as Sweden took a silver medal.
He also represented Team Sweden at back-to-back World Junior Championships and won a second silver medal in 2024. Willander should provide reliable two-way play and skating ability to Vancouver's blue line down the road.
More must-reads:
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- The 'NFL Passing YPG leaders' quiz
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Chiefs have a no-brainer trade target after loss vs. Bills
The last time the Kansas City Chiefs lost four games in a season, they went on to make the Super Bowl and beat the San Francisco 49ers. Six years have passed since, and Andy Reid's team will have to make some adjustments to replicate that fortune. That's especially evident after another heartbreaking regular-season loss to the Buffalo Bills, which exposed what might be the Chiefs' biggest flaw on offense: a lack of an explosive running game. That's why they need to pick up the phone and reach out to the New York Jets to trade for Breece Hall. Chiefs need to trade for Breece Hall According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Jets are more than open to trading Hall, who's in the final year of his contract. "The Jets have been getting calls on RB Breece Hall for a while, and while there is interest, New York is looking for at least a third-round pick in return," wrote Russini. Hall is just 24 years old, and while he had a major injury as a rookie, he's been pretty durable since. This season, he's up to 117 carries for 581 rushing yards and two touchdowns, averaging 5.0 yards per carry. He also has 21 receptions on 30 targets for 178 receiving yards. The Chiefs average 121.2 rushing yards per game, the 12th most in the NFL. That's with Patrick Mahomes accounting for one-third of their rushing yards, though. Neither Isiah Pacheco — who's currently out with an injury — nor Kareem Hunt has been efficient, and rookie Brashard Smith might not be ready to take on a bigger role. The Chiefs ran for just 79 yards against a Bills defense that gives up the fourth-most rushing yards per game (141.4), and Hall could certainly fix those woes.
The 'Most 300-yard, 4 touchdown NFL games' quiz
Since the renaissance of Sam Darnold’s career in Minnesota last season, one of the reputational issues the veteran needed to shake was his play in primetime. Against the Washington Commanders on ‘Sunday Night Football,’ he did what he could to put that narrative to bed by completing 21-of-24 passes for 330 yards, four touchdowns and an interception in a dominant 38-14 win. Darnold was deadly accurate Sunday night, completing every pass he attempted in the first half before throwing just eight times in the second half and giving way to Drew Lock in the fourth quarter with the game out of hand. The Seahawks gave Darnold a three- year, $100.5 million contract after his career-year in Minnesota last season. So far he’s rewarded them with 2,084 passing yards with 16 touchdowns and five interceptions en route to a 6-2 record through eight games. Which brings us to today’s quiz. It was the third time of Darnold’s career – and second already of the 2025 campaign – that he’s thrown for at least 300 yards and four touchdowns in the same game. With that being said, can you name every NFL quarterback in the Super Bowl Era to do that at least three times? Good luck! Did you like this quiz? Are there any quizzes you’d like to see us make in the future? Let us know your thoughts at quizzes@yardbarker.com, and make sure to subscribe to our Quiz of the Day Newsletter for daily quizzes sent right to your email!
Steelers' Undrafted Free Agent Rookie Could Help Influence 2026 First-Round Decision
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