William Villeneuve got a cup of coffee in the NHL last season, an honest-to-goodness debut in the big leagues, which is awesome for him. But let’s be real, that’s pretty much all it was: a three-game pit stop while the Leafs were spiraling into the worst season they’d seen in a decade. Now, as he wraps up his final season on the T25U25 list, his ranking at #17 just kinda locks in where he’s always been. Is that really enough for a guy who’s 24 years old?
“Offensive D-Man” Or Just Power Play Merchant?
Since he was drafted back in 2020, everyone’s been calling Villeneuve an “offensive defenseman,” right? But here’s the kicker: his point totals scream “power play specialist,” not five-on-five wizard. Dive into his Calder Cup winning season with the Marlies, and it gets even clearer. The guy put up 30 points in 61 regular season games last year, which sounds pretty good, good enough for eighth in Marlies scoring. He had three goals and a solid 27 assists. But when you filter those points to *even strength*? Boom. Only 13 points. That’s fourth on the Marlies, trailing Noah Chadwick, Matt Benning, and even Henry Thrun, who’s not even with them anymore! For a guy with that “offensive D” label, that reputation melts faster than ice in June. It was the Marlies forwards who were creating chances and burying goals, not necessarily Villeneuve driving play at even strength. He was a cog on the first power play unit, one that even tried running five forwards sometimes. It’s tough to say he was adding serious “plus value” there, just playing his part.
A Brief Glimmer Amidst Defensive Doom
Remember how brutal the Leafs’ defense was last year? Yikes. They were one of the worst defensive teams in the whole league, just stuck in purgatory for 70 games. Couldn’t make a pass, couldn’t clear the zone, slow, exhausted, completely demoralized. It was a disaster, a bloody mess. So, when Villeneuve got his three games, it’s wild that he actually *stood out*. He played a simple game, about 16 minutes a night, completed his passes, and didn’t get tossed around. Compared to the carnage around him, he was a “breath of fresh air,” kinda like Troy Stecher was for a bit. But here’s the telling part: even with the defense in absolute shambles, he never got an extended stay before mid-April. That screams volumes, doesn’t it?
At 24, you’re either an NHLer or you’re not, and the clock is ticking for Villeneuve. The Leafs are projecting their defense to be significantly improved this season. I just don’t see Villeneuve as an option in that mix. If he could’ve snagged a 6/7 role last year when things were dire, maybe it’d be a different story. But that didn’t happen. What’s next? He’s gotta show *something* big to change that narrative.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pension Plan Puppets.
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