On Thursday, TSN's Craig Button, who is a former General Manager and scout, released his rankings of the top-50 NHL-affiliated prospects and a pair of Vancouver Canucks were named on the list.
Boston University defenceman Tom Willander, who was selected 11th overall by the Canucks last year, comes in at ninth on Craig Button's rankings. Meanwhile, Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Vancouver's 2022 first-round pick, landed in the tenth spot on the list.
Both Willander and Lekkerimaki were given an 'A' rating by Craig Button, which signifies a player who has the ability to become a top-pairing defenceman or a first-line forward in the National Hockey League.
Willander, 19, is in his first season in the NCAA with Boston University where he's put up 16 points (four goals, 12 assists), ten penalty minutes and is a plus-17. He also went to represent Sweden at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship where he tallied three points in seven games, taking home the silver medal.
Lekkerimaki, a native of Tullinge, Sweden, is having plenty of success in the Swedish Hockey League with Orebro HK, where he plays with another Vancouver Canucks prospect, Elias Pettersson. In 37 games this season, Lekkerimaki has 23 points (14 goals, nine assists), ten penalty minutes and is a plus-five. The 19-year-old also appeared at the 2024 World Juniors, with Willander, where he managed to put up ten points (seven goals, three assists) in seven games and was named MVP.
Fans of the Vancouver Canucks have plenty to look forward to in the future and it's going to be interesting to see how Willander and Lekkerimaki, along with others, do in the National Hockey League.
