Leafs and Oilers quietly eyeing big trade that could shake up both rosters

For months now, trade rumours have been buzzing in Edmonton to finally upgrade the Oilers’ goaltending situation and fix the issues on the back end. With some uncertainty surrounding their current options, insiders are speculating which players might be on the move, and Stuart Skinner’s name keeps popping up alonsige teammate’s Darnell Nurse’s, while other speculations have surfaced with players the Oilers should target.

Earlier this month, Allan Mitchell of The Athletic took a deep dive into the Oilers’ roster to identify potential trade candidates, highlighting Skinner as a notable piece. On Monday, he identified five players general manager Stan Bowman should go after, and one of them is getting a lot of attention.

Mitchell believes the Oilers should attempt to acquire right-handed defenseman William Villeneuve from the Toronto Maple Leafs. He explains:

“Quality right-handed defencemen are something close to hockey unicorns. William Villeneuve of the Toronto Maple Leafs has been an effective AHL player for the past three seasons but appears to be on the outside looking in this fall. He is no lock to flourish at the highest level. Josh Kloke at The Athletic wrote about Villeneuve in June, saying he “has had three seasons of steady production with the Marlies, with some improvement in his breakouts and offence creation. Yet he hasn’t made himself impossible to ignore. With an NHL chance looking unlikely next season, a qualifying offer isn’t a given.”

“He did sign a one-year deal earlier this month but is blocked on the Toronto roster. Opportunity is knocking for another NHL team.”

Villeneuve was selected by the Maple Leafs in the fourth round of the 2020 draft and has since established himself as one of the top defenders for the Marlies.

He deserves a shot at cracking an NHL roster, and it could be outside of Toronto. Perhaps the Oilers and Maple Leafs could agree on a deal and Edmonton would land a significant piece on its blue line for now and the future.

With trade rumours swirling and Edmonton’s blue line in need of reinforcement, Villeneuve might be the dark horse candidate to make a move. Blocked on Toronto’s roster but showing consistent promise in the AHL, Villeneuve offers the Oilers a potential solution that blends youth and upside. Whether the Maple Leafs and Oilers can strike a deal remains to be seen, but this could be a deal that surprises fans on both sides. Keep your eyes peeled, a significant move may be just around the corner.