PuckSleuth
5Cap hit
$972K
0.9% of $104M cap
Term
2 yrs
Through 2027-28, then RFA
Clause
None
Surplus value
+$4.82M
vs. $5.792M market estimate
Contract details from our records; public announcement not yet matched
2026-27 regular season
GP
2
Goals
0
Assists
1
0 primary
Points
1
0.50 per game
TOI/GP
20:56
PP 1:29 · PK 1:01
xGF%
28.7
5v5, -11.2 vs. last yr
Game Score
+0.12
per game
Faceoff %
—
Plus/minus
-2
Blocks 2 · Hits 0
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1 vs EDM · L 9-7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 21:11 | 1:52 | 1:19 | — | 100 | 0 | 1 | -1 | +0.66 |
| Sep 29 @ EDM · W 6-5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 20:40 | 1:06 | 0:42 | — | 40 | 0 | 0 | -1 | -0.43 |
| Apr 16 @ EDM · L 6-1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 17:29 | 0:16 | 0:33 | — | 40 | 0 | 0 | -3 | -0.30 |
| Apr 14 vs LAK · W 4-3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 21:20 | 0:39 | 2:28 | — | 20 | 0 | 0 | -2 | +0.55 |
| Apr 12 @ ANA · W 4-3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 22:03 | 0:26 | 1:35 | — | 40 | 3 | 0 | 0 | +0.01 |
GS = our Game Score (credit for everything he did; goals and assists count most). FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.
Advanced metrics
5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 1,020 min · percentile vs. NHL defensemen
3rd percentile
23rd percentile
11th percentile
6th percentile
9th percentile
4th percentile
9th percentile
5th percentile
16th percentile
44th percentile
79th percentile
53rd percentile
26th percentile
46th percentile
xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.
Play styleOffensive-minded skating defenseman
Trait percentiles vs. NHL defensemen · 2025-26
Willander is an excellent skater who moves the puck quickly up the ice, but he rarely generates shot volume and struggles to enter the zone cleanly. His game centers on speed and transition play rather than offensive creation or defensive grit.
- Shooting volume
- 37
- Playmaking
- 38
- Zone entries(est.)
- 27
- Forechecking
- 11
- Physicality
- 33
- Defensive impact
- 40
- Puck management
- 44
- Speed
- 84
Where he shoots from
Slot 7% · Mid-range 23% · Perimeter 70%(100 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- Speed percentile of 84 makes him a dangerous transition player
- Puck management at 44th percentile keeps him efficient with limited touches
- Shot selection stays perimeter-focused at 70%, avoiding low-percentage attempts
Watch-outs
- Rush chances percentile of 27 shows difficulty creating clean zone entries
- Forechecking at 11th percentile indicates he won't chase down pucks aggressively
- Playmaking at 38th percentile limits his offensive zone creation despite elite speed
Similar style: Alex Vlasic (CHI), Nils Lundkvist (DAL)
Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.
Where his Game Score comes from
2025-26 · 70 GP
Season total +15.3, or +0.22 per game.
- Scoring
- +14.0
- Shooting
- +4.4
- 5-on-5 goals
- -3.5
- Defense
- -1.6
- Physical play
- +4.6
- Puck battles
- -2.4
- Penalties
- -0.4
Game Score gives credit for everything a player does in a game. Goals (1.0) and assists (0.7 primary, 0.5 secondary) count most; shots, blocks, hits, takeaways, penalties drawn, faceoff wins, killing penalties, and holding down the other team's chances add to it. Only mistakes subtract: goals against at 5-on-5, giveaways, penalties taken, faceoff losses, and allowing more chances than an average player would. A player who is there to defend or kill penalties is not marked down for not scoring. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.
Career stats
From the NHL's player records
No NHL playoff games yet.
Seasons traded mid-year show one row per team.
Usage
Last game: vs EDM, Oct 1
Pair 1 with Jamie Oleksiak (9:56 together at 5-on-5) · PP2
From the NHL's shift chart.
Latest news
Headlines from news outlets and team blogs
No news about him in the last 30 days.
Sentiment & chatter
Fans
—
Beat writers
—
Media
—
Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.
Recent Game Scores
Last 10 games · goals above average
Average +0.13 per game over these 10.
Skating · NHL EDGE
2026-27, as of Oct 2
- Top speed
- 20.7 mph
- 81st pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 3
- Hardest shot
- 78.1 mph
- 43rd pct
- Distance
- 3.1 mi
- OZ time
- 37.9%
- 18th pct
- DZ time
- 45.2%
Age curve
NHL defensemen · production index
At 21, defensemen typically produce 97% of their peak (age 24). His contract runs through age 22, when the typical level is 98%.
From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.
Contract by season
2 seasons left
| Season | Team | Cap hit | % of cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | VAN | $972K | 0.9% |
| 2027-28 | VAN | $972K | 0.9% |
RFA after 2027-28. $1.944M in cap hits left. % of cap uses each season's ceiling where the league has set one ($104M this season, $113.5M in 2027-28).