It’s that time of the year for The Win Column’s 2026 NHL Draft Rankings and Draft Profiles! Earlier on, we released the TWC consolidated 2026 NHL Draft rankings. The 2026 NHL Draft will take place on June 26 and 27 in Buffalo.
17th in our consolidated rankings, next up we have Xavier Villeneuve from the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada of the QMJHL.
Who is Xavier Villeneuve?
| Player | Position | Shoots | Height | Weight | Born | Nationality | 2026 Draft Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xavier Villeneuve | Defence | Left | 5’11″/ 180 cm | 157 lbs / 71 kg | September 29, 2007 | Canada | TWC rank # 17 | CS rank # 18 NA |
From Laval, Quebec, Villenueve — a small, but mobile defenceman — was drafted to the Armada in the 2023 QMJHL Draft, seventh overall in the first round. Unlike many of his CHL counterparts, Villeneuve isn’t committed to a school, and it doesn’t seem like he will be making the jump to the NCAA.
Villeneuve’s on-ice production
| Year | Draft Rel. | League | Team | GP | G | A | P | P/GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | D-2 | NEPACK 15U | Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 15U | 9 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0.22 |
| 15U AAA | Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 15U | 48 | 5 | 18 | 23 | 0.47 | ||
| 2023-24 | D-1 | QMJHL | Blainville-Boisbriand Armada | 54 | 8 | 35 | 43 | 0.79 |
| 2024-25 | D+0 | QMJHL | Blainville-Boisbriand Armada | 61 | 12 | 50 | 62 | 1.01 |
| 2025-26 | Draft yr | QMJHL | Blainville-Boisbriand Armada | 37 | 6 | 32 | 38 | 1.02 |
Throughout his CHL career, Villeneuve hasn’t seen a dip in production and has continued developing at a steady pace, which is a positive for him come June. Looking at his production, many may attribute the increase to a lack of competition in the CHL, although that isn’t the case.
Watching him play in his rookie year, there was always promise, and he was always able to continue taking the next steps that were required of him.
Villeneuve’s strengths
Skating
Villeneuve is one of the most agile skaters in this draft class. In tight gaps and in open ice, he is able to be a step ahead of everyone around him. His skating allows him to be shifty as well, escaping pressure, and it has been a pivotal part of his game, especially when leading a breakout for the Armada. On multiple occasions, he has started a rush the other way and quickly shifted momentum in a game.
It isn’t just on a breakout where his skating is on display. Being able to walk the blue line as a defenceman takes tremendous skating ability. In a tight gap, being able to turn on a dime and make defenders look silly is a trait only the best have. Villeneuve has made it look seamless many times, and it is the strongest part of his game.
Puck skills
In addition to his skating, Villeneuve’s utility belt includes elite puck-handling. We have seen the likes of Lane Hutson and more who dictate play from the blue line. They all control the puck immensely well and have it practically on a string. You can’t knock them off of it easily, and they don’t slow down when the puck is on their stick.
Part of the reason as to why he is so confident in leading a rush or a breakout is precisely this. He has confidence with the puck and doesn’t shy away from being the play driver, because he has the tools to make something happen offensively. He is extremely similar to teammate Justin Carbonneau, whom I am familiar with after watching him play in junior, with his puck control. They both use that skill to be the number one option and carry some of the offensive workload.
Villeneuve’s areas of improvement
Size/physicality
The biggest concern for Villeneuve is something that has been disproven quite a bit in the NHL: his size. As mentioned earlier, he stands at 5’11”, 157lbs. Height isn’t a problem for him; it is more so his weight and physicality. Even Cole Caufield on the Canadiens — who dropped in his draft due to his size — sits at 174lbs. In order for Villeneuve to be able to eventually take that next step and continue his road to the NHL, he needs to put on size.
The NHL is a much faster and more physical game than junior. Especially for a defenceman, his offensive prowess can be extremely solid, even his defensive game is ahead of previous prospects like him, but his lack of physicality can be a weakness at the next level. If he can even hit that Caufield threshold, around 175lbs, he will most certainly be able to adapt and become an effective contributor for whoever drafts him.
Villeneuve’s comparables
| Scenario | NHL Comparable | Position | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best case | Lane Hutson | Defence | Small, elite-skating, offensive defenceman |
| Likely outcome | Torey Krug | Defence | Productive offensive defenceman, top-pairing potential |
In recent years, there has been a surplus of defencemen just like Villeneuve. Small, offensively-minded, question marks surrounding adaptability to the NHL. One of them is Lane Hutson. Villeneuve does play a lot like Hutson in that they both drive plays, skate exceptionally well, and are both on the smaller side. In an absolute best-case scenario, we see Villeneuve pan out the way Hutson did for the Habs. A number-one defenceman who will lead the team in playoff runs. He has shown flashes of that potential in the Q, and he has the ability to translate that game to the next level.
The more likely scenario, however, is that he is more of a Torey Krug, which is still a very good pickup for any team. Krug was also a smaller defenceman, sitting at 5’9″, 185lbs, although he didn’t play like it. Throughout his career, Krug was a defenceman who produced, but also played a sound defensive game, excelling at the two-way game. He impacted games more than just through the scoresheet. Villeneuve could create plays for his teammates and use open space well, complementing those elite Bruins lineups. He also never gave an inch defensively, and as I mentioned earlier, Villeneuve’s defensive game is ahead of previous prospects with a similar offence-focused game.
Fit with the Flames
| Organizational need addressed | Left-shot defenceman |
| Realistic pick range | 16-21 |
| NHL timeline | 2 to 3 seasons, AHL first |
| Flames fit verdict | Possible fit |
Left-shot defencemen aren’t the most pressing issue for the Calgary Flames, as they have bigger issues down the middle. Although selecting him wouldn’t exactly be a waste, especially if the Flames don’t select a player like Carson Carels earlier in the draft. The flexibility with having two first-round picks is that with the earlier pick, they can address a need, such as scoring with someone like Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg, potentially. Then, with the latter pick, add to the back end by bringing on an LHD.
If he were to head to Calgary, he would, without a doubt, be the top LHD prospect in the system. Due to his high-offence game, he probably isn’t the answer to who Zayne Parekh’s partner should be long-term. It’s why the match isn’t exactly perfect for Villeneuve and the Flames, and the latter would probably be better off selecting someone else. Additionally, he may not even be there for the Flames to pick.
Summary
Xavier Villeneuve is a high-octane, offensive defenceman who drives plays and creates rushes. He is projected to be a top-six pairing defenceman who can build upon his two-way game to become a more complete player. Additionally, he has the potential to be a standout defenceman on a team if he can play to his ceiling of a Lane Hutson-type player.
Check out all of The Win Column’s individual player profiles of selected 2026 NHL Draft prospects: