\u201cHe was one of those guys that really popped for me when I met him in person \u2014 I just loved the passion he spoke with when he talked about the game,\u201d general manager Kyle Davidson said June 27<\/a>. \u201cI just felt the passion oozing out of him (and) that gives you a good belief that he\u2019s going to do everything possible in his power to become the player he can be.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom a hockey standpoint, the offense and the skating is one that you need to see from a defenseman of his size.\u201d<\/p>\n He\u2019ll play at Boston University in 2026-27, following former Terriers Sacha Boisvert, Ryan Greene and Drew Commesso.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a great kid, he\u2019s got great personality (and) great energy, but then also the way he plays the game, he\u2019s going to help us in a lot of ways,\u201d BU coach Jay Pandolfo said. \u201cHe\u2019s certainly going to help us offensively, and we think he can push the pace for our group. We\u2019re excited to have him.\u201d<\/p>\n BU is known for nurturing players into NHL-ready talent. Macklin Celebrini, Jack Eichel, Brady Tkachuk and Jake Oettinger are BU alumni who have established themselves among the NHL\u2019s best.<\/p>\n It was an easy choice for Villeneuve to commit to the Terriers.<\/p>\n \u201cThe first thing was the people over there, the coaching staff were really amazing,\u201d Villeneuve told the Tribune. \u201cI talk with them pretty much every day. They\u2019re just great people. There\u2019s a couple (other) things like the history over there \u2014 it\u2019s a hockey university \u2014 (and) what they did with similar players as me.\u201d<\/p>\n BU has a track record of fostering smaller defenseman, such as the Montreal Canadiens\u2019 Lane Hutson (5-foot-9, 162 pounds), who won the Calder Trophy in 2024-25. That should help Villeneuve, whose size is his biggest question mark.<\/p>\n He measured 5-11, 163 before the June draft. In comparison, Schaefer was 6-2, 186 when selected No. 1 in 2025, while the Hawks\u2019 smallest defenseman, Kevin Korchinski, clocks in at 6-1, 185.<\/p>\n It was a bold pick by the Hawks because it\u2019s a change of pace from their taller, bulkier defensemen such as Ian Cole (6-1, 237) and Alex Vlasic (6-6, 217). Villeneuve said after draft day that \u201cI\u2019ve got to get bigger<\/a>,\u201d but he believes his skills make up for his smaller stature.<\/p>\n \u201cThe way I can move (and) how dynamic I am, I think that makes up for it,\u201d Villeneuve said. \u201cI don\u2019t think I could do that at 6-4 or 220.\u201d<\/p>\n The Hawks have driven down the small-blueliner road before with success. The crowning achievement is Duncan Keith, a Hockey Hall of Famer<\/a> and member of the NHL\u2019s top 100 players of all time<\/a>.<\/p>\n Small defenseman were a rarity in the early 2000s. Size bias was extreme early in Keith\u2019s career, and he heard it all when he measured 6 feet, 168 pounds before the 2002 draft.<\/p>\n That didn\u2019t stop the Hawks from selecting him at No. 54. While he later bulked up to 192 pounds, he still would be one of the leaner defenseman on the Hawks today.<\/p>\n \u201cI had lots of people tell me maybe I should be a forward instead of a defenseman,\u201d Keith told NHL.com\u2019s Tracey Myers in November<\/a>. \u201cI just liked the position, I felt comfortable on the defense and I just believed in myself.<\/p>\n \u201cThe desire to get better and improve and the hunger and drive was always there. I didn\u2019t really need any extra motivation but definitely used some of that talk as motivation.\u201d<\/p>\n Keith played 16 seasons with the Hawks and a final season with the Edmonton Oilers and was a three-time Stanley Cup and two-time Norris Trophy winner. In the last year, he was inducted into the Hockey and Blackhawks halls of fame.<\/p>\n Pretty good for a small guy.<\/p>\n![\"Xavier](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/CTC-HAWKS-0627.jpg\")
Xavier Villeneuve looks on after being drafted by the Blackhawks with the No. 34 pick on June 27, 2026 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Blackhawks](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/CTC-L-BLACKHAWKS_523f25.jpg\")
Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith skates against the Canucks during Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals May 7, 2009, at the United Center. (Scott Strazzante\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n