The Toronto Marlies, the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs, are led by a great defense. They allow only 2.78 goals per game, and they win a lot of low-scoring games. It’s how they took care of business against the Bridgeport Islanders on March 8, as they won the game 3-2 in overtime.
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They have a few standouts on the blue line, and one of them is William Villenueve, a 22-year-old two-way player. He had two assists in the recent game and has been great all season on both ends of the ice. It’s made him the primary defenseman at the point and someone the Marlies can turn to for a lot of ice time as one of their top players, and eventually, he’s someone the Maple Leafs will look to add to the NHL roster.
Villeneuve’s Passing & Playmaking
Villeneuve is a great passer who finds the open skaters in the offensive zone and sets up the offense. While he’s only found the back of the net twice this season, he has 22 assists and 67 in three seasons at the AHL level. The Marlies scored a power-play goal in their recent win, and it came with Villeneuve’s pass from the point to open up the Islanders’ defense and allow Alex Steeves to find a shooting lane for his 31st goal of the season.
It’s not just his offensive zone passes; Villeneuve also moves the puck up the ice and sets up quick scoring chances with outlet passes. When the Marlies control the puck in the defensive zone, it’s easy for them to set up the offense, thanks to him. Villeneuve knows where to move the puck, and it’s helped Toronto be one of the more efficient teams in the AHL. The Marlies don’t make many mistakes and certainly don’t surrender the puck in the defensive zone. It’s in part because they are a well-coached team, but having a passer on the defensive unit helps as well.
Villeneuve’s Defense
The playmaking ability is Villeneune’s strongest attribute, but he’s also stepped up defensively. He’s not a physically imposing presence and won’t remove skaters from the puck. However, he creates turnovers and turns defense into offense. Villeneuve has great positioning in the neutral zone and defensive zone, and it’s helped him out and allowed the Marlies to win low-scoring games.
The Marlies, along with having a great defense, have a remarkable goaltending trio with Matt Murray, Artur Akhtyamov, and All-Star Dennis Hildeby, all putting together great seasons. It’s allowed the defensemen to play more aggressively and give up the initial shot, knowing it will likely be stopped, and for Villeneuve, it’s a style that suits him, as he can use his skating to turn a turnover into a scoring chance.
Maple Leafs’ Patience With Him Is Paying Off
The Maple Leafs used a fourth-round pick to select Villeneuve in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. Defensemen take a while to develop, and they knew it would be a few years before they’d see their draft choice pay off. Villeneuve spent three seasons in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) before joining the Marlies and has spent three seasons with the AHL team, rounding out his game.
This season is the one where Villeneuve is starting to round out his game. He’s taken his play to the next level, particularly on the defensive end. Moreover, the Marlies trust him in big situations, from the power play to the final minutes of regulation to overtime, and because of that, it’s only a matter of time before he makes the jump to the NHL.
Where Villeneuve Must Improve
Villeneuve is a great skater, yet he often gets caught napping and allows opponents to skate past him. He has the speed to make up for it, but like a lot of young defensemen, he’ll struggle to defend in transition when the opposition has the puck in space. It’s an issue that cost the Marlies multiple times in the game against the Islanders, a game where they had a 2-0 lead but only came out on top in overtime.
He’s also not a physical defenseman, and weighing only 175 pounds, he’s a smaller skater on the ice. Villeneuve must prove he can deliver a big hit when needed and play in the dirty areas to not only help out the Marlies but also show the Maple Leafs, a team looking to make a run at the Cup, that he deserves a call-up to the NHL.
The young skater has a path to the NHL, but still has a few areas where he must improve. The leap from the AHL to the NHL is all about the fine and minor details, where improving the small things can make a difference between playing in both leagues. Villeneuve is in his third season in the AHL, and by the end of the season, the hope is that he’s figured everything out to take that next step.
