Maple Leafs Recall Defenceman William Villeneuve from Marlies Ahead of Ekman-Larsson Return

The Maple Leafs recalled 23-year-old defenceman William Villeneuve from the AHL’s Toronto Marlies, the team announced Wednesday, a move designed to provide extra defensive depth at practice while Oliver Ekman-Larsson represents Sweden at the Olympics. ProHockeyRumors’ Josh Erickson wrote, “The Maple Leafs announced they’ve recalled defenseman William Villeneuve from AHL Toronto. He’ll give the Leafs an extra defenseman at practices for the time being while they await Oliver Ekman-Larsson‘s return from representing Sweden at the Olympics.”

Villeneuve is a 6'2", 195 lb right-shot defenceman, the Maple Leafs’ 2020 fourth-round pick (122nd overall). NHL materials note he won the 2022 Memorial Cup with the Saint John Sea Dogs, earned QMJHL Second All-Star Team honors in 2020 and 2022, and wore an alternate captain’s “A” for his final three seasons in junior. The organization reported he signed a one-year, two-way contract extension in August.

On the scoresheet, Villeneuve enters Toronto having led Marlies defensemen with 18 points this season; Yardbarker and ProHockeyRumors list his line as three goals and 18 points in 40 games, while LeafsNation reports three goals and 15 assists in 39 games (3+15=18). ProHockeyRumors also flagged a current minus-8 plus/minus for Villeneuve, a drop from his 2024-25 breakout when he posted four goals and 40 points in 55 games with a team-high +17 rating.

Across his AHL career the Maple Leafs’ release records 90 points (nine goals, 81 assists) in 165 regular-season games. That multi-season production, seasons of 25, 25 and then 40 points on the Marlies as reported by LeafsNation and PHR, is one reason evaluators call him a puck-moving option; Yardbarker and other outlets describe him as a right-shot, puck-moving defenseman who can provide secondary offense.

The recall also ties directly into Toronto’s short-term roster calculus. Yardbarker noted the club is managing post–All-Star break injuries and mapping decisions ahead of the trade deadline, and Chris Tanev is expected to resume skating while Morgan Rielly is expected to return to the lineup. ProHockeyRumors added Villeneuve “hasn’t gotten a recall yet this season” and that some have questioned that earlier omission given the Leafs’ lack of puck-moving defensemen outside Ekman-Larsson and Rielly.

Prospect rankings vary around Villeneuve; LeafsNation pegged him as the organization’s ninth-best prospect last summer, while Terry Koshan ranked him as high as the club’s No. 5 prospect and No. 2 defenseman in commentary cited by PHR. Toronto Hockey Daily framed the recall as long-awaited, writing, “This move feels like it was years in the making. Villeneuve isn't some fresh-faced kid straight out of the draft... He's earned the right to wear the leaf on his chest.”

Villeneuve has yet to play his first NHL game, but PHR flagged a clear path: “A pending restricted free agent, he’s a clear bet to receive a qualifying offer for the second year in a row and could be in line for his NHL debut down the stretch if Toronto sells off a defender or two ahead of the trade deadline.” For now the recall is both a practical depth move for Olympic coverage and an audition, practice reps with the NHL group will determine whether Villeneuve stays in Toronto or returns to the Marlies.