Xavier Villeneuve
2025–26 Team: Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)
Date of Birth: Sept. 29, 2007
Place of Birth: Laval, QC, CAN
Height: 5-foot-11, Weight: 157 pounds
Shoots: Left
Position: Defenseman
NHL Draft Eligibility: 2026 first-year eligible
Rankings
Xavier Villeneuve could be a very polarizing player at the 2026 NHL Draft. At 5-foot-11 and 157 pounds, he’s one of the smallest top defensive prospects in recent memory. But for what he lacks in size, he makes up for it with his dynamism. Possessing a deep bag of tricks, it’ll be interesting to see where the high-upside blueliner goes.
Related: THW’s 2026 NHL Draft Guide
The Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) is known for its inflated offensive totals, but Villeneuve’s production is still impressive. Last season, he ranked second in points per game among defensemen with 1.02. This season, he’s third with 1.03, sitting on six goals and 30 assists in 35 contests.
It should be noted that Villeneuve hasn’t played since Jan. 4 due to injury. Furthermore, he’s had just one multi-point outing since December 2025. Those factors, and especially the size concerns, are why opinions may vary on Villeneuve.
As outlined, the reasons to take a chance on Villeneuve start with his offense. He effortlessly creates separation at the blue line, opening up passing and shooting lanes. One of his favorite dekes is his spin move, which is risky but super effective. In addition, he takes advantage of any space given to him, leading to dangerous scoring opportunities.
Villeneuve also generates a lot from the defensive and neutral zones. He’s capable on retrieval duty and utilizes his stretch-pass ability to start rushes. As a gifted skater, he’s able to carry the puck up the ice himself, too.
As you’ll see in the video below, Villeneuve (No. 72 in white) is active in the defensive zone. He pressures the opposition at the point, which sometimes leads to huge chances the other way. He’s not someone you can take lightly.
Highlights from one of Xavier Villeneuve’s better games of the seasonpic.twitter.com/WwdgehgRFy
— Justin Giampietro (@justingiam) February 26, 2026
Despite the size, Villeneuve is far from a lost cause defensively. While he’s not a high-end defender, he finds loose pucks and establishes clear possession for his team. Plus, opponents don’t victimize him off the rush or in the dump-and-chase game. His smarts and skill level allow him to prevail in these situations.
Villeneuve will be a fascinating player to monitor. He has the ceiling of a top-pairing NHL defender, driving a team’s offense from the back end. But are teams willing to bet a first-round pick—potentially in the teens—on that ceiling?
Other THW Draft Profiles
Xavier Villeneuve – NHL Draft Projection
As outlined, the fact that Villeneuve has missed a chunk of time and his play style is perceived as risky means teams with top picks may have him off their board. But the teens could be on the table, as he’d be one of the highest-upside players available by that point. It’d be surprising if he slipped to the second round.
Quotables
“He has excellent speed and edge work that allows him to evade a lot of pressure. His hands and vision are high-end, and he projects to score a ton in the NHL. He’s a small, light defenseman who doesn’t play the body, and his defense as a pro will be a significant question mark.” – Corey Pronman, The Athletic (from ‘Gavin McKenna drops to No. 4, Tynan Lawrence tops Pronman’s latest 2026 NHL Draft prospect rankings,’ The Athletic – Dec. 10, 2025).
“A gifted offensive defenseman who is among the most skilled playmakers in the draft. His vision and anticipation with the puck are excellent, allowing him to create offense from the back end. Villeneuve has some of the shiftiest mitts of any blueliners in the draft class, evading pressure at the top of the zone.” – Tony Ferrari, The Hockey News
“Villeneuve is the most active offensive defenceman in the 2026 draft class. He craves having the puck on his stick and making plays in the offensive zone. He quarterbacks the power play and has become more of a shooting threat in addition to his elite vision and playmaking.” – Jason Bukala, Sportsnet
Strengths
- Creativity
- Hockey IQ
- Skating
- Playmaking
- Puck-handling
- Retrievals
- Utilizing teammates
Under Construction – Improvements to Make
- Physicality
- Play style can lead to bad turnovers
- Shutdown defense may never be a strength
NHL Potential
Villeneuve has embraced comparisons to Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson. The latter was arguably better compared to his draft class, even if he fell to the second round, but that’s the ultimate upside—a point-per-game, No. 1 blueliner.
Risk-Reward Analysis
Risk – 4.5/5, Reward – 5/5
Fantasy Hockey Potential
Offense – 9.5/10, Defense – 4.5/10
Awards/Achievements
- 2023–24 CHL All-Rookie Team
- 2023–24 QMJHL All-Rookie Team
- 2023–24 QMJHL Defensive Rookie of the Year (Raymond Lagacé Trophy)
- 2024–25 CHL Third All-Star Team
- 2024–25 QMJHL Defenseman of the Year (Emile Bouchard Trophy)
- 2024–25 QMJHL First All-Star Team
- 2024–25 QMJHL Most Assists by Defenseman (50)
- 2024–25 U18 WJC Gold Medal
- 2024–25 U18 WJC Most Goals by Defenseman (4)
Interviews/Links
Xavier Villeneuve Stats
Videos
