Leafs sign William Villeneuve to two-year extension

The Toronto Maple Leafs have come to terms with one of their Calder Cup-winning blueliners.

On Wednesday, the Leafs announced that they have signed defenseman William Villeneuve to a two-year contract extension.

Villenueve entered this offseason as a restricted free agent. The financial details of the deal have not yet been disclosed.

The Sherbrooke, Quebec native is coming off a sterling postseason for the Leafs’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate Toronto Marlies, as he contributed two goals and 21 assists for 23 points in 24 playoff games en route to the Marlies capturing the Calder Cup as 2026 AHL champions.

Villeneuve, 24, did play three games for the Leafs last season, in which he went pointless. In 61 regular season games for the Marlies, he had three goals and 27 assists for 30 points, while finishing second on the team with 64 penalty minutes.

Initially selected by Toronto from the Saint John Sea Dogs of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) in the fourth round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, Villeneuve broke out in his final junior season of 2021-22, when he registered eight goals and 48 assists for 56 points in 64 games. He then he had an assist in five playoff games as the Sea Dogs won the Memorial Cup as Canadian Hockey League (CHL) champions.

Villeneuve began his full-time professional career for the Marlies with two nearly identical seasons. In 2022-23, he put up three goals and 22 assists for 25 points in 54 games. In the 2023-24 season, he put up two goals and 23 assists for a repeat of his 25 points in 54 games for the year prior.

He had his best regular season as a pro in 2024-25, when he scored four goals and added 36 assists for 40 points in 55 games.