William Villeneuve News

Villeneuve will remain in the Maple Leafs organization for two more season after the team announced Wednesday that they had signed the 24-year-old to a two-year, two-way contract extension. The French Canadian defensemen made his NHL debut for the Maple Leafs last season during a short, three-game stint but spent the majority of 2025-26 with the Marlies (AHL), where he had three goals and 30 points in 61 games played. He is expected to start the season with the Marlies but will provide the Maple Leafs with much needed defensive depth throughout the season if need be.

Villeneuve was a fourth-round pick in 2020 and is expected to make his NHL debut after 224 career games in the AHL. Villeneuve, who has 29 points (3G / 26A) in 59 AHL games this season, will replace Philippe Myers on the third pair.

Villeneuve was drafted in the fourth-round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft by the Maple Leafs, but he has yet to play an NHL game. The 24-year-old defenseman has spent the past few seasons in the AHL and has 28 points (3G / 25A) in 58 games with the Marlies (AHL) this season.

Villeneuve was drafted in the fourth-round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft by the Maple Leafs, but he has yet to play an NHL game. The 24-year-old defenseman has spent the past few seasons in the AHL and has 28 points (3G / 25A) in 58 games with the Marlies (AHL) this season.

William Villeneuve will return to the Toronto Marlies (AHL) for a fourth straight season after signing a one-year, two-way contract with the Maple Leafs on Tuesday. The 23-year-old puck-moving defender was Toronto's 2020 4th-round pick (122nd overall) but has yet to make his first NHL appearance despite solid offensive numbers every season with the Marlies. He is expected to start 2025-26 as one of the Marlies' main defenders after his four-goal, 40-point season last year across 55 games played.