The Maple Leafs latest roster moves prove not every prospect is in the 2027 plans
Photo credit: Marc DesRosiers-IMAGN Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs demoted both Luke Haymes and William Villeneuve on Wednesday and it's starting to look like not everyone may play a role next season.
As the Maple Leafs head into the last stretch of the 2025-26 season, they are going to likely be running with a more veteran lineup if these latest roster moves are any indication, and it's not a good sign for the future — at least right now.
The Luke Haymes and William Villeneuve moves show that the 2027 vision may already be shifting
Wednesday came with the news that Luke Haymes and William Villeneuve were both demoted to the Toronto Marlies, leaving Toronto without two young prospects who could have had a great audition period for next year:
One fan on X however did espouse a little bit of hope however, as with the Marles playing at a ridiculously early time of 10:45 AM, there is still time for Villeneuve and Haymes to play or get recalled ahead of Toronto's game vs. Washington:
Villeneuve has yet to be given a shot despite being in the system for the last five seasons without a real shot at the NHL level, and there's a lot of debate over whether he will ever get a shot given he was a Kyle Dubas pick, and if there's no room for him now — will there ever be?
The defenceman has 28 points in 58 games (3 goals, 25 assists) this season and has 118 points in 221 games.
Haymes is a little luckier given that he just recently signed last year and the two people running things now in Brandon Pridham and Ryan Hardy were involved in bringing him aboard so it may be only a matter of time.
He has 32 points in 63 games this season for the Marlies (17 goals, 15 assists).
Why some Marlies standouts are being squeezed out of the 2027 vision; at least for now
As the focus shifts towards a more data-driven roster construction, there could be a reason that Villeneuve hasn't been able to lock down a spot. By his own admission he was struggling defensively, so if he is showing some unfavourable underlying numbers it could be blocking him.
Also there is a bit of an onus on Craig Berube to play these guys sure, but he's also trying to give the team one last look at certain players who could be leaving in order to give new management better clarity.
Guys like Max Domi, Matias Maccelli, Nick Robertson, et al are all going to be heavily evaluated and by giving them a chance to boost their stock, it's still a net positive from Berube — and he could be giving Calle Jarnkrok his last taste of NHL action.
There's still time for sure, but given that Toronto has historically not used their call-ups, even if they were brought back there's still no guarantees they will be playing at all.
Also read on Hockey Patrol :
Why the Maple Leafs were right to stay away from Peter DeBoer
Why the Maple Leafs were right to stay away from Peter DeBoer
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