Could Xavier Villeneuve make NHL scouts look silly again?

Jun 25, 2026, 15:00 EDTUpdated: Jun 23, 2026, 16:22 EDT

Credit: Xavier Villeneuve (Laurent Corbeil/Club de hockey Canadien inc.)

Every small defenseman wants to mimic Lane Hutson these days – and why wouldn’t they?

For Xavier Villeneuve, the comparison makes a ton of sense. He’s a sub-six-foot blueliner who skates like the wind, and might be one of the most skilled – and smartest – defensemen in the 2026 NHL Draft. Being in Quebec, he has gotten to see Hutson up close quite often – and it’s someone he clearly tries to emulate through his play.

“It’s unbelievable what he’s doing right now,” Villeneuve said at the NHL Draft Combine in Buffalo. “I think I’m a bit bigger than him, but what he’s doing is so impressive.”

We know teams love big defensemen. There wasn’t a single blueliner under six-foot taken last year. That would immediately disqualify Villenueve, who measured in at 5-foot-10 and 164 pounds at the combine earlier this month. But the allure is undeniable – the skill is remarkable, and you won’t find many better pure athletes, either.

Villeneuve dealt with a hip injury during the season, which meant he missed out on some of the physical elements of the combine. But he came top 10 in a few of the tests, including second in the VO2max. For a smaller guy – who, by some accounts, looks like he’d be blown over by the wind – Villeneuve is incredibly athletic, just like his idol, Hutson.

The Blainville-Boisbriand Armada defender finished the season with six goals and 38 points in 37 games. Again, hip issues prevented him from reaching his full potential, but scouts were already impressed by his talent. The Laval, Quebec native had 43 points as a rookie two years ago before exploding for 50 assists and 62 points in his Draft-1 season. Villeneuve then helped Canada win gold at the 2025 U-18 World Championship in Texas, where he finished with eight points despite averaging around 13 minutes a night. Mix in an incredible showing at the CHL USA Prospects Challenge, and there basically was never a showcase event where Villeneuve wasn’t a standout over the past two years.

What separates Villeneuve from other small blueliners? The way he thinks the game and the way he moves.

“He’s an absolute wizard with the puck,” one scout said. “He’s in a world of his own.”

Villeneuve is the definition of the modern, mobile offensive defenseman. He boasts exceptional vision and the patience to hold the puck through traffic until a high-danger play develops. That patience often pays off, which is why we’ve seen some strong offensive totals the past few years. Villeneuve combines creative dekes and precise puck touches to open passing lanes on the rush.

While the term “elite” gets thrown around way too often, Villeneuve is as close to “elite” of a skater as you’ll find this year. He has outstanding edge work, and his four-way mobility is among the top in the class. Villeneuve is a quick skater, but his tempo manipulation – specifically, how he starts, stops, and forces you to adjust on the fly – is so high-end for his age. When Villeneuve needs to blast past guys, he can. But he also knows when to slow things down and bring the pace back a bit when things get a bit wonky.

“If you need someone to drive the play, he’s your guy,” one scout said. “You’re going to have a hard time finding a more dominant offensive defenseman in this class.”

That being said, Villeneuve’s shot still needs a ton of work. He’s a remarkable passer, and can get the puck out of danger with a high level of frequency. But his shots often come out looking fairly weak, and he can get a bit nervous when shooting from a tough angle. For an offensive defender, it feels like he needs to really improve his release – but he has outstanding hands and can deke out just about anyone.

The elephant in the room, though, is his size. There’s no question he lacks the physical strength to be a high-impact NHLer – at least, on paper. He told reporters at the 2026 NHL Draft Combine in Buffalo that bulking up is his No. 1 priority. He knows it has held him back in the QMJHL at times, and that scouts will discount him for it.

Like the Hutson brothers, Villeneuve defends by keeping the puck on his stick at all times. He’s creative and elusive, and he’s able to get himself out of trouble more times than not. Doing that in the QMJHL is very different from doing it in the NHL or NCAA. But for the most part, scouts are impressed with how he continuously finds ways to get himself out of trouble. Villeneuve will definitely need to bulk up to handle the rigors of playing against NHLers, but it hasn’t hurt Hutson yet in Montreal.

If Villeneuve can even come close to that. He’ll be fine. The question is, of course, whether he’ll be in the same ballpark area. It’s very likely he’s going to be drafted higher than Hudson was in 2022, as teams seem a bit more willing to take on smaller blueliners. But they need to be able to process plays at a high level while being efficient and quick. Villeneuve is not on the same level as Hudson in that regard yet, but he’s definitely quite advanced for his age, which is why there are many scouts who like him as a first-round prospect.

“He has one of the highest floors of anyone in this draft class,” another scout said. “The ceiling is a different question, though, and you can’t deny that he struggles defensively.”

The team that drafts Villeneuve is betting high on his upside. He can razzle-dazzle the best of them and is truly one of the best skaters in this draft class, regardless of position. That skill set is something very few players can come close to matching, but without a bit more muscle, defensive refinement. Teams will be nervous about selecting him this year.

It’s one thing to be a small player who plays big, such as Viggo Björck. It’s another to simply be… small. Villeneuve is definitely on the small side of things, but there’s plenty of time for him to prove people wrong. Many public boards have Villeneuve as a first-round talent, with some thinking he’s worth a top-10 pick. While some NHL scouts feel the same from a talent perspective, there’s still a stigma teams have about smaller dudes.

The good news? Villeneuve is going to Boston University, the same team that produced the Hutson brothers. If any program knows how to get the most out of an undersized defenseman (and help them in the weight room), it’s Jay Pandolfo and crew.

So, bet against Villeneuve at your own peril. Whether he’s a late first-round pick or falls to Day 2, someone is getting one of the most skilled defenders, probably a little later than they should.

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