The Vancouver Canucks are in a complicated situation at the moment with one of their top prospects. While an entry-level contract has been offered to defenceman Tom Willander, the two sides haven't agreed on a deal, with most reports pointing to the inclusion of "Schedule A" bonuses being the issue. This has led to speculation among the fan base that the organization could trade the 20-year-old this off-season.
If the Canucks were to go down the trade route, the most likely return would be a second-line center. With J.T. Miller no longer in Vancouver, the organization needs to find a replacement who can help get back to contender status. While this issue would usually be solved in free agency, there are not many options available this year, which means the Canucks could be stuck overpaying a player after a bidding war.
"He's Going To Have A Decision To Make At Some Point": Jim Rutherford Provides Details On Negotiations Between The Canucks And Tom WillanderDuring his media avaliability on Tuesday, Vancouver Canucks President of Hockey Operations, Jim Rutherford was asked about top prospect Tom Willander. The 2023 first-rounder has yet to sign his entry-level contract, with most reports saying the holdup has to do with "Schedule A" bonuses. Willander, who just finished his second season in the NCAA, was projected to join the Abbotsford Canucks for their 2025 Calder Cup Playoffs run, but instead is over in Sweden particpating in the 2025 IIHF World Championship.
Trading a top prospect is never easy and often a risky decision. The player acquired may not work out to the level the team wants, or the prospect may take off and become exactly what the original team needed. A good example of this is a trade from 2022 between the LA Kings and the Minnesota Wild, which has turned into an absolute steal for the Wild.
Two Years in, The Fiala-Faber Trade is Aging PoorlyAs the Los Angeles Kings prepare to play the Minnesota Wild tomorrow, I thought it was time to gauge the acquisition of Kevin Fiala trade from the Wild that saw standout defensive prospect Brock Faber and a 2022 first-round pick (Liam Ohgren) go the other way.
Ahead of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, the Wild traded defenceman Brock Faber and the 19th overall pick (Liam Öhgren) to the Kings in exchange for Kevin Fiala. Fiala then signed a seven-year contract with LA with an average annual value of $7.875 million. At the time, the trade seemed fair from both sides, as the Kings added a proven goal-scorer while Minnesota acquired two players that could help them in the future.
Flash forward three seasons, and this trade looks like a steal for the Wild. While Fiala has been productive for LA, Faber has developed into one of the top young defensemen in the NHL. In 2024, he was the runner-up for the Calder Trophy, while this season saw Faber average over 25 minutes a night while participating in the 4 Nations Face-Off for Team USA.
As for Öhgren, he also had an impressive season. The 21-year-old recorded 37 points in 41 AHL games, while also dressing for 24 games at the NHL level. As for next season, Öhgren is projected to make the jump full-time to Minnesota to play in their bottom-six.
The Kings-Wild trade is a good example of what could happen if Vancouver elects to move Willander this off-season for a top-six center. While it may work out in the short term, the long-term consequences could be significant. All trades have a level of risk to them, but based on recent history, trading a 20-year-old prospect who looks NHL-ready may not be the best decision for the organization.
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