Luckily for them, they have an internal option that could help them in that department, and it’s going to be hard to ignore when looking for an opportunity with William Villeneuve.
Right where we left off 😏 VILLY BOMB FROM THE POINT!
A big part of what has helped him explode on the offensive end of the ice is his hockey IQ and his strong sense of where to send the puck, as the right-shooting defenseman does a good job of spotting an open skater to start the breakaway or create a rushing scoring opportunity. Being a strong skater, Villeneuve can also jump into the play when necessary and create some separation so that his teammates can take over and get into the dangerous areas, increasing the chances of a goal. His work on improving his stride, four-way mobility and composure under pressure has contributed greatly to his growth on the offensive side of the puck.
Head coach Craig Berube would certainly appreciate that aspect of his game, but only if it is supplemented with solid fundamentals in the defensive zone, as that is the only way to become a mainstay in the NHL. To Villeneuve’s credit, that aspect of his game has improved in recent years and it appears he is on the cusp of putting it all together. He was able to make up for blemishes as he defended the rush with his foot speed to minimize damage and put out the fire. While he is far from an imposing physical presence, he will remain in position to keep opponents honest and that allows him to be effective in creating turnovers. It helps that he has an ideal body size of 6-foot-1 and 183 pounds so he doesn’t look out of place, and he deserves some props for taking steps to play more physically comfortable.
Villeneuve provides help in the puck movement department, which would cost the Leafs nothing more than a roster spot and cap space, which is handy considering the bare cupboard of tradable assets. The team as a whole would benefit from giving younger talent like him the opportunity to show what they can do at the NHL level, as evidenced by the emergence of Easton Cowan and Jacob Quillan’s solid stretch a few weeks ago. Villeneuve won’t set the league on fire by any means, but there’s no reason to think he wouldn’t do better than Philippe Myers, who has struggled mightily and is statistically among the worst in the league so far this season.
It would be a disservice to the Leafs if they don’t see what they have in the 23-year-old, even if it’s just for a cup of coffee. While the prospect pool is far from the upper tier, there are plenty of quality players in the AHL that could help the Leafs right now and Villeneuve is one of them. There’s no harm in pairing him with Simon Benoit in sheltered minutes for a few matches and then working his way up if he does well, which is certainly better than the alternative of having to watch Myers continue to struggle.
Now is not the time for the Leafs to bring up Villeneuve and give him a chance to prove himself.
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