Maple Leafs assign Luke Haymes and William Villeneuve to AHL’s Toronto Marlies

Forward Luke Haymes and defenceman William Villeneuve have been assigned to the AHL’s Toronto Marlies, the Toronto Maple Leafs announced on Wednesday morning.

Haymes was recalled from the Marlies on emergency basis on Tuesday morning, while Villeneuve was called up on emergency basis on Saturday afternoon. Both now return to the AHL without having yet made their NHL debuts.

Originally signed on a two-year entry-level contract in March 2025 out of Dartmouth College, Haymes is currently near the end of his first full season as part of the Maple Leafs organization. In 63 games with the Marlies this season, he has 17 goals and 32 points. He had a slow start to the season, but saw improvement heading into February’s All-Star break. Haymes is set to become a restricted free agent next summer at the age of 23.

Villeneuve is in his fourth season with the franchise after being selected by the Maple Leafs in the fourth round of the 2020 NHL entry draft. In 56 games with the Marlies this year, the defender has three goals and leads the team’s blue liners with 28 points. His 25 assists so far this season brought him to 106 career helpers with the Marlies, good for first on the team’s all-time leaderboard among defenders. He sits second behind T.J. Brennan in all-time points by a Marlies defenceman, currently at 118. Last summer, Villeneuve landed ninth on The Leafs Nation’s summer prospect rankings, owing to his strong potential as a two-way defenceman.

The Marlies host the Utica Comets on Wednesday morning at Coca-Cola Coliseum. With five games remaining in their regular season schedule, the team currently sits fourth in the AHL’s North Division with a 32-25-5-5 record. Toronto can clinch a Calder Cup Playoff berth on Wednesday with a point against Utica.

Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs have five games remaining, including three home games. They are set to host the Washington Capitals on Wednesday night. With the Maple Leafs eliminated from playoff contention, Haymes and Villeneuve could still get a shot at a game in the NHL, before likely re-joining the Marlies for the postseason. Both players appeared in both playoff games for the Marlies last season, with Villeneuve registering two assists.