Maple Leafs give promising 23-year old an opportunity because of Olympics

The Toronto Maple Leafs have a bunch of players taking part in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.

That has created some opportunities back in Toronto, where the NHL squad has returned to practice this week.

That includes a chance for defenseman William Villeneuve. He was called up from the AHL Marlies, the Maple Leafs announced.

Villeneuve's call-up is mostly a practice procedure. Oliver Ekman-Larsson is away at the Olympics with Sweden.

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This is the first promotion of the season for Villeneuve, who is a 23-year old and former fourth-round pick.

The 6-foot-2 right-hander played 55 games last season for the Marlies and recorded 36 assists (along with four goals).

This season, he's at 18 points through 40 games, with the entire Marlies team taking a step back.

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The Toronto Sun's Terry Koshan ranks Villeneuve as the No. 2 defensive prospect in the Maple Leafs' system.

This has some medium-term implications for Villeneuve's career.

Because the Maple Leafs have struggled this season, they could end up selling before the NHL trade deadline. And if they trade a defenseman or two, that could open up a spot.

Villeneuve can impress the coaches at practice to set up a late-season NHL debut.

More Olympics news:

• This U.S. luge star was parodied on SNL
• Amber Glenn gets into music dispute during Olympic figure skating program
• Macklin Celebrini is chasing Hooley Smith's 1924 Olympics record
• U.S. women's hockey star's brothers go viral at Olympics
• Controversy and cursing with Canada curling
• Chloe Kim's silver medal has some controversy