The Toronto Maple Leafs recently extended defenseman William Villeneuve’s contract for one year on a two-way basis, a move that has sparked surprising reactions among fans due to Villeneuve’s striking physical similarity to former Leaf Mitch Marner. The buzz around this Mitch Marner William Villeneuve resemblance has taken social media by storm with many supporters doing double takes.
Fans quickly noticed the look-alike connection, leading to humorous and bewildered remarks. One fan exclaimed,
“Leafs cloned Mitch Marner before he left.”
Another added,
“I looked three times and saw 16. Finally saw it’s 76. Thought it was Marner.”
Such comments reflect the sense of disbelief and amusement surrounding Villeneuve’s appearance.
Additional reactions captured the playful confusion among the fanbase. One wrote,
“Legit thought this was Marner and that I’d finally learned the art of time travel.. disappointing, as I haven’t in fact learned the art of time travel.. ,”
while another joked,
“The Leafs really cloned Mitch Marner, gave Vegas the clone, and kept the real Mitch under witness protection and renamed him William Villeneuve. Tell me where in the CBA is there a rule on cloning?”
Yet, not all shared this viewpoint; some doubted the comparison, with one declaring,
“Yea I don’t see it.. Seems like somebody wanting something to be that just isn’t anymore.”
William Villeneuve, aged 23, is coming off a commendable season with the Leafs’ AHL team, the Toronto Marlies, recording 40 points over 55 games, showing promise as a developing defenseman. His rising profile and the ongoing buzz make him an intriguing figure for the Leafs’ future lineup.
Former Leaf Jay Rosehill Predicts William Nylander Will Shine Without Marner
With Mitch Marner no longer part of the team, former Maple Leafs player Jay Rosehill sees this as an opening for William Nylander to step up and display his offensive talents. On the Leafs Nation podcast, Rosehill shared his thoughts on the shifting team dynamics, saying,
“I kind of had a little spicy one with [William] Nylander cresting the 100-point threshold and overshadowing Mitch. It was a very polarizing debate on whether you extend this guy or continue with the core four.”
Rosehill anticipates the coming season will be compelling to watch, especially with high-caliber players like Auston Matthews, Nylander, and previously Marner capable of reaching or surpassing the 100-point benchmark. Though Nylander has yet to attain this milestone, Rosehill suggests this year could mark his breakthrough. Rosehill himself played for the Maple Leafs from 2009 to 2011 and offers a knowledgeable perspective on the team‘s evolving core.
The Leafs’ recent moves, coupled with Villeneuve’s surprising likeness to Marner, add unique layers to the team’s narrative as they prepare for the season ahead. Fans will undoubtedly keep a close eye on Villeneuve’s development and Nylander’s potential rise as the Leafs aim to build on their competitive presence.