Telescope Talk: Xavier Veilleux
B-Isles Three In Three Weekend Produces Mixed Results
Palmieri, Islanders Frustrated with Lack of Offense
Jesse Pulkkinen: Towering Prospect with NHL Potential
Defenseman Calle Odelius Showing Promise, Growing Pains

Telescope Talk: Xavier Veilleux

Telescope Talk: Xavier Veilleux
Joey McAuliffe Islanders Prospects

Telescope Talk highlights prospects, especially late-round picks, who are years away from potentially impacting the NHL — if they ever make it. These players may not be top-tier prospects, but that’s the purpose of Telescope Talk, to spotlight Islanders prospects, usually taken in the later rounds, who are far off in the distance. For this inaugural edition, let’s examine Xavier Veilleux.

The Islanders drafted defenseman Xavier Veilleux with the 179th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. Although only 31% of sixth-round picks appear in at least one NHL game, Veilleux has a chance to defy the odds.

Veilleux, from L’Ancienne-Lorette, Quebec, stands six-foot-one and weighs 195 pounds. He earned his draft selection playing for the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the USHL. During his draft year, Veilleux tallied 32 points over 62 games, leading all USHL rookie defensemen in scoring and earning a spot on the All-USHL Rookie First Team.

This season, Veilleux has elevated his game. Through 19 games in 2024-25, he has posted 13 points and a +11 rating. Among USHL defensemen, he ranks in the top ten in points, assists, plus/minus and shots. At just 18 years old, he still has two seasons of USHL eligibility, but he will likely advance to a higher developmental level soon.

To be candid, the USHL isn’t the strongest competition for NHL-caliber prospects. The league primarily serves as a stepping stone to the NCAA, with over 90% of USHL skaters moving on to D1 hockey. Veilleux fits this mold, as he’s committed to Cornell University and will join the Ivy League program next season. While his USHL statistics are promising, analyzing his game tape reveals a more complete picture of his strengths and weaknesses.

At his draft, most scouts cited Veilleux’s skating as his biggest flaw. Even Eyes on Isles described him as “raw in just about every sense.” Like many young defensemen, Veilleux required significant development to realize his NHL dream. One year later, Ezra Gennello, the voice of the Lumberjacks broadcasts, believes Veilleux has made significant strides.

He’s definitely not Cale Makar, but his skating is good enough to get back in a hurry if needed and to carry the puck up the ice. On our top power play units, he’s one of the options to skate the puck through the neutral zone.

A review of Veilleux’s film backs up this assessment. He’s a difficult defenseman to beat. With a solid understanding of positioning and effective use of his stick and body, Veilleux maintains a steady presence in his end. His skating, while not elite, is fast enough for now.

Off the ice, Gennello sees additional value in Veilleux’s leadership.

Xavier is a silent, lead-by-example kind of guy. He works hard and raises the intensity level for the team. He’s one of our captains this season.

While leadership is challenging to quantify and even harder to project, Veilleux’s ability to guide his peers at just 18 years old is promising.

Veilleux is far from a finished product, but his steady progression highlights his potential. His ability to adapt and improve his skating, his strong defensive instincts and his leadership qualities make him a fascinating prospect to watch.

As he transitions to Cornell University and faces stiff competition, the Islanders will closely monitor his development. Veilleux’s NHL future remains uncertain, but he has the tools and work ethic to turn his underdog story into a success.

Featured image courtesy of the Muskegon Lumberjacks

A special thank you to Ezra Gennello

Leave comment

Follow us on social media!