Maple Leafs Recall Villeneuve and Haymes: Will They Debut This Season?

The Toronto Maple Leafs are injecting some youthful energy into their roster with recent call-ups from the Toronto Marlies, but the question remains: will William Villeneuve and Luke Haymes see NHL action before the season concludes?

Since the trade deadline, the Maple Leafs have brought up three Marlies who have been actively participating in games: Jacob Quillan (18 games), Bo Groulx (12 games), and Michael Pezzetta (six games). Adding to this mix, Villeneuve was recalled on an emergency basis after Oliver Ekman-Larsson sustained an “upper and lower body” injury just three days prior. On Tuesday morning, Haymes joined him as another emergency call-up.

During what could be the team’s penultimate full practice of the season, Villeneuve skated alongside Ekman-Larsson while Haymes took on the role of an extra forward. Both players have made significant contributions to the Marlies this season, with Haymes, a rookie center, netting 17 goals and accumulating 32 points in 63 games. Villeneuve, on the other hand, leads all Marlies defensemen with 28 points in 58 games. Despite their impressive performances, neither has yet to make an appearance in the NHL.

With the Maple Leafs’ season already deemed a loss, it seems prudent to explore the potential of these young talents. Villeneuve, in particular, has been with the organization since the start of the 2022 season, marking four years within the system. However, indications suggest that there is no immediate plan to insert either player into the lineup.

Head coach Craig Berube was noncommittal when asked about the potential for playing the two, stating, “Yeah, I don’t know. I think we’re just dealing with some, not injuries, but stuff where it could keep guys out, so it’s nice to have them guys up here to get acclimated to things and, if we need them, we’ll get them up here.” He acknowledged, however, that there is value in allowing younger players to get some game experience at this stage of the season, emphasizing, “I always think there’s value in getting young guys a game or two. I don’t think it hurts; it gets them a taste of the NHL. So, no, I don’t see it hurting anything.”

As the Maple Leafs approach the final stretch of their season with just five games remaining, fans are left wondering if they will finally witness the NHL debuts of Villeneuve and Haymes.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.