Blackhawks draft Xavier Villeneuve at No. 34 in NHL draft
The Chicago Blackhawks selected Quebec defenseman Xavier Villeneuve with the No. 34 overall pick in the second round of the 2026 NHL Draft on June 27. The 5-foot-11 offensive blueliner from Blainville-Boisbriand marks Chicago's first selection of draft weekend and adds a puck-moving prospect frequently compared to Montreal's Lane Hutson before he heads to Boston University.
Key Takeaways
- Villeneuve went 34th overall after NHL Central Scouting ranked him among the top 20 North American skaters in the 2026 class.
- He posted 38 points in 37 QMJHL regular-season games and 14 more in 17 playoff outings last season.
- His slender frame and defensive gaps likely pushed him out of round one, per RDS.
- Chicago's pick opens a rebuild lane for an undersized, high-skill defenseman in the post-Hutson scouting era.
- Villeneuve is committed to Boston University for 2026-27, following the same NCAA path Hutson used.
Why did Xavier Villeneuve fall to the second round?
Villeneuve waited longer than many projected. RDS reported he was viewed as one of the 20 best North American players in the 2026 class, yet every team passed before Chicago called his name at No. 34.
Scouts still loved his offensive toolkit. RDS credited his puck-possession skill and production, but noted his slight build and defensive lapses may have cooled first-round interest.
That profile mirrors the pre-draft debate HabsolumentFan traced days earlier: undersized offensive defensemen can slide even when the talent is obvious. Lane Hutson faced the same skepticism before thriving in Montreal.
What production did Villeneuve deliver in the QMJHL?
Second City Hockey highlighted a third QMJHL season that ended with 38 points (6 goals, 32 assists) in 37 regular-season games for Blainville-Boisbriand. He added 14 points (6 goals, 8 assists) across 17 playoff games.
RDS noted he missed roughly 20 games after an injury, yet still finished the regular season at a point-per-game pace. Reinserted just before the postseason, he scored six goals and eight assists in 17 playoff appearances.
Draft analyst Byron Bader praised Chicago's selection on social media, calling Villeneuve a massive producer and comparing the value to Chase Reid, selected 28 picks earlier.
How does the Lane Hutson comparison matter now?
Hutson's rise forced NHL front offices to rethink small, skill-first defensemen. HabsolumentFan argued that success made teams more receptive to players like Villeneuve, a Laval native listed at 5-foot-11 and about 163 pounds.
Villeneuve will continue that development arc at Boston University in 2026-27. RDS and HabsolumentFan both noted he chose BU because Hutson blossomed there before becoming a star with the Canadiens.
Scott Wheeler of The Athletic asked whether Villeneuve could be the next Hutson, calling him someone with a special gift. Elite Prospects, cited by Second City Hockey, labeled him the most electric defenseman in the class.
What does the pick mean for Chicago's pipeline?
For the Blackhawks, Villeneuve kicks off a draft weekend focused on adding skill. He turns 19 in September and arrives as an offensive defenseman with the traits teams now hunt through data-driven scouting and predictive models that reward elite puck-moving rates.
Family ties run local too. Second City Hockey noted his uncle Steve Maltais, a name familiar in Chicago-area hockey circles.
For full pick details, see Second City Hockey's draft report and RDS's French-language coverage of the selection.