With the No. 34 overall selection in the second round, the Chicago Blackhawks drafted Xavier Villeneuve, a 19-year-old offensive defenseman from the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in the QMJHL.
When the Blackhawks turned to their second-round board on June 27, 2026, they didn’t pick a name built by years in the NHL—they drafted a producer in the making. Chicago selected defenseman Xavier Villeneuve from the QMJHL’s Blainville-Boisbriand Armada with the No. 34 overall pick.
Villeneuve, who will turn 19 in September, is listed at 5-foot-11 and 163 pounds. The scouting pitch around him is clear: he’s billed as an offensive defenseman, the kind of player who brings the traits fans look for from that archetype.
Last season with the Armada, Villeneuve compiled 38 points in 37 regular-season games, including 6 goals and 32 assists. In the postseason, he added 14 more points—6 goals and 8 assists—in 17 games. It was his third season in the QMJHL. and his next step is already set: Villeneuve is committed to Boston University for the 2026-27 hockey season.
The pick also landed with a familiar echo for people who follow hockey beyond the NHL. Those well-versed with Chicago-area hockey teams outside of the league recognize the name of Villeneuve’s uncle: Steve Maltais.
By the time draft chatter started spreading, comparisons began to show up fast. A post dated June 27. 2026 praised the Villeneuve selection as “Massive producer. ” saying it “looks very similar to Chase Reid. ” who was taken 28 picks earlier. Another widely shared piece of the conversation points to his skill set and potential ceiling. The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler profiled him earlier this month with the question. “Can Xavier Villeneuve be the next Hutson?”—framing him as having “a special gift.” That profile was published June 21. 2026.
Villeneuve’s path to the NHL has one more stop in the conversation before it becomes real game action: growth. Elite Prospects highlights him as the “most electric defenseman” available in this year’s draft, describing him in a video shared online.
For Chicago, the immediate takeaway is straightforward. The No. 34 overall selection doesn’t just add a defenseman—it adds one with a track record of generating offense in the QMJHL. a clear role as an offensive-minded blue-liner. and a commitment to Boston University for the 2026-27 season as he prepares to make his next leap.
Chicago Blackhawks Xavier Villeneuve No. 34 overall second round draft Blainville-Boisbriand Armada QMJHL Boston University offensive defenseman