The 2026 NHL Draft has some clear separation at the top, with potential superstars, potential stars and some players that profile as very, very good players at the National Hockey League level. At No. 6 overall, the Calgary Flames will have plenty of options, but beyond that, they've got plenty of draft capital to land another player that could feature for the team over the coming years.
One such player is LHD Xavier Villeneuve, and given that he plays in one of Calgary's biggest positions of need, it's safe to say that he's a player to look out for later in the first round. Whether or not the Flames are eyeing him, only time will tell, but given the potential upside, let's take a look at a player that could very well join the C of Red in the coming weeks.
Pre-Draft Production
Year | Team | League | Games Played | Goals | Assists | Points | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2023/24 | Blainville-Boisbriand Armada | QMJHL | 54 | 8 | 35 | 43 | -10 |
2024/25 | Blainville-Boisbriand Armada | QMJHL | 61 | 12 | 50 | 62 | +14 |
2025/26 | Blainville-Boisbriand Armada | QMJHL | 37 | 6 | 32 | 38 | +7 |
For a 16-year-old defenseman back in 2023/24, Villeneuve started his career in the QMJHL off incredibly hot, with his 43 points representing a major splash onto the scene in junior hockey in Canada. A year later, he improved upon those numbers, and after three years with the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, he ended with a highly impressive 28 goals to go along with 143 points.
At 5-foot-11, 162 pounds, there may be some question marks over Villeneuve's size at the next level, but he's shown that against solid competition, he can more than hold up, and not only that, he can dominate.
Strengths
Given the numbers, it's no surprise that the puck handling, skating, creativity and playmaking are the strongest suits in Villenueve's game, and right now, it appears that some of those tools will be NHL ready very soon. The shot isn't quite there yet, and while he was able to put together 28 goals over the past three seasons, that's less of a strength than one would hope, but consistent offensive output defined his junior career up until now.
Simply put, Villenueve knows how to get his teammates involved in the game whether that's on the breakout, in transition or in the offensive zone, and wherever he lands, he's going to be a PP QB in the league for a long time. Unlike other offensive minded defensemen, the hockey IQ is fantastic for Villenueve as well, and while he's being somewhat overlooked in the draft, he's a name that could rise quickly in the coming weeks.
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