The Toronto Maple Leafs took care of some business on Wednesday, signing defenseman William Villeneuve to a two-year contract extension. The team didn’t release financial details, but PuckPedia pegged the deal at an average annual value of $875,000.
Villeneuve, 24, was a restricted free agent coming off a monster season with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies. And we’re not exaggerating. The kid led all AHL defensemen in playoff scoring during the Marlies’ Calder Cup championship run, racking up 23 points in 24 postseason games. That’s two goals and 21 assists for anyone keeping score at home.
Selected by the Maple Leafs in the fourth round of the 2020 NHL Draft (122nd overall) out of the Saint John Sea Dogs, Villeneuve has been a steady riser through the organization. He spent his first two full pro seasons putting up 25 points each year, then jumped to a career-best 40 points in 55 games during the 2024-25 campaign.
This past regular season? He posted three goals and 27 assists for 30 points in 61 games with the Marlies, while also leading the team in penalty minutes with 64. Not exactly a shrinking violet back there.
NHL Cup of Coffee
Villeneuve also got his first taste of NHL action during the 2025-26 season. Three games with the big club, no points, but he managed a plus-one rating while throwing one hit and blocking five shots. Nothing flashy, but the organization clearly wanted to see what they had.
Before turning pro, Villeneuve put up 56 points in 64 games during his final junior season with Saint John, then helped the Sea Dogs win the Memorial Cup with an assist in five playoff games.
His development arc has been exactly what Toronto hoped for when they grabbed him in the fourth round. He kept getting better every year, and now he’s locked in through the next two seasons. The Maple Leafs have a solid depth piece who just proved he can produce when the stakes are highest.
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