Maple Leafs sign defenceman Villeneuve to one-year, two-way extension

TORONTO — The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed defenceman William Villeneuve to a one-year, two-way contract extension, the NHL club announced Tuesday.

The 23-year-old from Sherbrooke, Que., recorded 40 points (four goals, 36 assists) in 55 games with the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies last season.

He added two assists in two games during the Calder Cup playoffs.

Villeneuve has posted 90 points (nine goals, 81 assists) in 165 career regular-season AHL games.

The six-foot-two, 195-pound defenceman was originally selected by Toronto in the fourth round (122nd overall) of the 2020 NHL draft.

Before joining the Maple Leafs organization, Villeneuve posted 153 points (21 goals, 132 assists) in 216 career regular-season Quebec Major Junior Hockey League games with the Saint John Sea Dogs, while adding seven points (one goal, six assists) in 11 playoff games.

Villeneuve won the 2022 Memorial Cup with the Sea Dogs and was named to the 2020 and 2022 QMJHL second all-star team.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 5, 2025.

Saint John Sea Dogs’ William Villeneuve, 13, defends as Hamilton Bulldogs’ George Diaco, 14, skates to the net during second period CHL Memorial Cup hockey finals action in Saint John, N.B., Wednesday, June 29, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ron Ward

News from © The Canadian Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community? Create a free account to comment on stories, ask questions, and join meaningful discussions on our new site.

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.
The Canadian Press

The Canadian Press is Canada's trusted news source and leader in providing real-time, bilingual multimedia stories across print, broadcast and digital platforms.