The Toronto Maple Leafs continue to take care of their summer business, signing restricted free agent defenseman William Villeneuve to a one-year, two-way deal. According to CapWages, the 23-year-old defenseman’s deal is for the league minimum $775,000 at the NHL level and $90,000 at the AHL level.
Villeneuve had the best season of his professional career, with 40 points (4 goals, 36 assists) in 55 games with the AHL Toronto Marlies. The Sherbrooke, Quebec native was a fourth-round pick of the Leafs in 2020 out of the QMJHL’s Saint John’s Sea Dogs. He was considered a bit of a project by Leafs former Director of Amateur Scouting, John Lilley, despite the impressive offensive numbers posted in the QMJHL in his draft year.
After signing a three-year, entry-level contract in September 2021, the righty Villeneuve had a bit of a metamorphosis, posting excellent offensive numbers (8 goals, 48 assists in 64 games), playing major minutes, but also displaying a dramatic improvement in his own zone, with a +60 plus/minus rating during the regular season. He capped off an impressive campaign by registering two assists in a 6-3 victory over Hamilton in the Memorial Cup Final.
In his first two seasons as a professional, Villeneuve understandably had some growing pains transitioning from junior hockey, but put up good numbers offensively (3 goals, 22 assists in 54 games) as a rookie and nearly identical stats as a sophomore (2 goals, 23 assists in 54 games), with an ability to lug the puck up the ice.
With Topi Niemela heading to Europe this season, it is expected that Villeneuve will get more of an opportunity as a power-play quarterback, and as a righty, it could mean he will get an NHL look in the near future.
