Columbus told Canucks they didn’t have the prospects for Jiricek; don’t want to move Willander

The biggest need on the Vancouver Canucks is on the blue line, and there’s nobody hotter on the trade market right now than 20-year-old Columbus Blue Jackets defenceman David Jiricek. Rick Dhaliwal gave an update on what he’s hearing regarding the defenceman and the Canucks’ involvement.

“They were,” Dhaliwal replied when Don Taylor asked if the Canucks had any interest in the player. “The Canucks were interested. They talked to Columbus, but Columbus told a bunch of teams – including Vancouver – that they didn’t have the assets for Jiricek. Canucks didn’t have the prospects, and they didn’t want to give up what Columbus wanted. You know Columbus wanted Tom Willander in return because he’s a right-shot defenceman.

“The Canucks are very high on Willander. Do they really know that Jiricek is better than Willander? They obviously don’t think so or they could have got the deal done by doing a flip with Willander and Jiricek. They didn’t do that. Teams will try and get back into Jiricek. Vancouver can do it. But right now, I’ve been told the Blue Jackets have told the Canucks they don’t have the prospects and they don’t have what it takes to get that deal done at this moment.”

Jiricek has split the previous three seasons with the Blue Jackets and their AHL affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters. The Czech defenceman logged one goal and 10 assists for 11 points in 53 games in the NHL. While in the AHL, he scored 14 goals and 35 assists for 59 points in 86 games.

Willander is in his second year in the NCAA with Boston University. In his freshman year, he suited up in 38 games, recording four goals and 21 assists for 25 points. These totals are impressive for a freshman defenceman, especially considering he was playing behind now offensive defenceman for the Montreal Canadiens, Lane Hutson. Now in his sophomore season, Willander is trusted in a higher role and has two goals and seven assists for nine points in 12 games.

This Canucks management group is very high on their 11th overall pick in the 2023 NHL draft, as documented by the Athletic’s Thomas Drance in one of his latest pieces:

“The Canucks are also delighted about Tom Willander’s progress this season, and his evolution as a more comfortable and dynamic attacking presence from the back end in his sophomore season at Boston University. The club will likely push to sign him after the conclusion of his NCAA season.”

While General Manager Patrik Allvin is interested in the young Blue Jackets defenceman, the club isn’t willing to give up on Willander to make that acquisition.