Tom Willander's season with Boston University — and NCAA career — came very close to ending on Saturday afternoon in Toledo, Ohio.
After in the first round, Willander's Boston University was facing Cornell on Saturday in the second round of the NCAA Championship Tournament. Cornell proved a tougher test than Ohio, pushing the Terriers to overtime in a closely-contested game. The goaltenders went save-for-save, with shots on goal 43-to-39 in favour of Boston University.
Cornell opened the scoring midway through the first period when a rebound banked in off Ryan Walsh. Initially waved off for being directed in with the hand, a coach's challenge saw on review that the puck instead went off his hip into the net.
The Terriers responded just over a minute later, scoring in a very similar way: a rebound banking in off a Cornell player. Matt Copponi took a bouncing pass from Cole Hutson, deked around Hank Kempf, and got the initial shot on goal that was stopped by Ian Shane, with the rebound hitting Kempf's skate and going in to tie the game 1-1.
The two quick goals suggested a high-scoring game. Instead, that was it for scoring until the third period, when Cole Hutson gave the Terriers the 2-1 lead with a ridiculous top-shelf shot from a bad angle on the power play.
Cornell wasn't done, however, battling back with a grinding shift in the Terriers' zone. Tim Rego chopped the puck to Jack O'Leary, who cut into the slot and fired a bullet off the post and in past Mikhail Yegorov. Regrettably, it was Willander's fellow Canucks prospect, Aiden Celebrini, who failed to tie up O'Leary's stick and prevent him from getting the shot off.
The goal sent the game to overtime tied 2-2. That's where the other Hutson — Quinn Hutson, Cole's brother – stepped up for Boston University. The eldest of the four Hutson brothers and the only forward ironically scored with a point shot.
Hutson kept the play alive along the right boards and passed to Ryan Greene before rotating to the point to cover for his defenceman, who was making a line change. That proved fortuitous, as Greene put the puck in his wheelhouse and he sent a one-timer screaming past Shane, who was screened right as the puck left Hutson's stick.
The overtime goal sent Boston University, including both Willander and his fellow Canucks prospect Aiden Celebrini, to the Frozen Four.
Willander, for his part, had a quiet game. That's largely a compliment, as he was a smothering presence in the defensive zone. Every rush was angled into the boards and multiple Cornell possessions in the offensive zone ended with Willander pinning his man to the boards and freeing up the puck for a teammate. Willander also played a key role on the Terriers' perfect penalty kill.
It certainly would have been nice to see Willander do more offensively but that role on the Terriers is largely filled by Cole Hutson, leaving Willander in more of a shutdown role on the second pairing.
The Terriers heading to the Frozen Four means Willander won't be able to sign with the Canucks for another two weeks. The first round of the Frozen Four — third round of the tournament — doesn't take place until April 10, with the championship game on April 12. That means the earliest Willander would be eligible to sign with the Canucks would be April 11 if they lose their first game and April 13 if they make it to the final.
That doesn't leave a lot of time left in the NHL season for Willander, especially if the Canucks miss the playoffs. The Canucks have just three games after April 11, all at home: April 12 vs the Minnesota Wild, April 14, vs the San Jose Sharks, and April 16 vs the Vegas Golden Knights.
At this point, it seems more likely that Willander will instead head to the AHL to join the Abbotsford Canucks for their playoff run. Abbotsford will have four games remaining in the regular season after April 11 but are aiming for home-ice advantage in the playoffs, as they've gone on an impressive run of late. They're currently en route to their ninth-straight win.
Of course, if Willander doesn't want to go to the AHL, that's where things could get interesting. It's unlikely that Willander would hold out and return to Boston University for another year but stranger things have happened.
Lots of people seem to think a Tom Willander signing will be simple, it may not be.
— Rick Dhaliwal (@DhaliwalSports)
Willander is an excellent student and could have played pro in Sweden after his draft year and chose another direction.
It will be interesting for sure.
Willander is off to the frozen 4.
In all honesty, as good as Willander is as a prospect, he likely could use a full season in the AHL. Joining Abbotsford for their playoff run would be excellent experience for the young defenceman.
