Poirier, Villeneuve both signs ELCs

Maple Leafs Website

HALIFAX - Two Saint John Sea Dogs have signed three-year entry-level contracts with their respective NHL clubs.

Jeremie Poirier has signed an ELC with the Calgary Flames, the team announced Friday, while William Villeneuve has signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs, the team announced Saturday.

Poirier was a third-round selection of the Flames in the 2020 NHL Draft.

"Poirier is an offensive dynamo, excellent at puck movement and a strong skater who can zip up and down the ice," writes Flames Nation. "The hole in his game is his defensive zone play and play away from the puck. But evidently the Flames have seen enough from him to think they can round him out. (He was very noticeable in both rookie camp games against Edmonton.)"

Poirier is currently at Flames training camp after taking part in the team's rookie/development camp.

"The guys are faster, the guys are bigger so plays around the net are a little tougher so you've got to bear down a little more, play more physical."

Jeremie Poirier gives his take on the first rookie game and looks ahead to tonight's rematch against the Oilers. pic.twitter.com/D5I2mvWkly

— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) September 20, 2021

The 19-year-old, who is entering his fourth season with Saint John, recorded nine goals and 28 assists in 33 games last year. He added four goals and five assists in nine playoff games.

Villeneuve, meanwhile, was a fourth-round pick of the Leafs in 2020. He recently played with his fellow prospects at the Traverse City tournament where "he tallied two assists over four games with the Leafs," writes Leafs Nation.

From Pension Plan Puppets:

We then got to see Villeneuve at the Leafs prospect tournament. Impressions there indicated a defenseman who can make a decent first pass but won’t be a major transition player, but someone with lots of holes in his defensive game.

Right when he was drafted in 2020 we knew he was going to be a long-term project for the Leafs. This contract indicates they’re ready to put in that work and see what comes of it. He’ll join the Marlies a year from now, and we’ll see what happens then.

Villeneuve got into two games with the Marlies last season following the conclusion of the New Brunswick playoff tournament thing. Last year with Saint John, the third-year d-man had three goals and 17 assists in 33 games. He added a goal and five assists in six playoff games.

The 19-year-old is still at Maple Leafs training camp.

Both Poirier and Villeneuve will return to the Sea Dogs in the coming days/weeks where they'll play major roles for the Memorial Cup hosts.