Forward Caleb Desnoyers #18 of Team CHL fires the puck against goaltender Patrick Quinlan #29 of Team USA (Photo by Dennis Pajot/Getty Images)
The QMJHL has gone two full years without hearing the name of a player from their league called in the first round of the NHL Draft. The last time it happened was the 2022 NHL Draft held in Montreal when the Anaheim Ducks selected Nathan Gaucher 22nd overall. However, Caleb Desnoyers has an opportunity to be the skater to finally break that streak entering the 2025 NHL Draft.
The St-Hyacinthe-native, which is a short 60km drive from the Bell Center, has been taking the QMJHL by storm this season. The 6-foot-2, 172-pound cent leads his club in goals and points; while being the youngest regular on the Moncton Wildcats roster
After playing only 26 games in this 2024-25 QMJHL season, Desnoyers has 17 goals and 42 points; good for seventh in QMJHL scoring. This places also him third in the league among 2025 draft eligible players, behind Justin Charbonneau and Bill Zonnon who have 45 points each. However, Desnoyers leads the entire QMJHL in points-per-game, with a 1.615 PPG rating; placing him among the most performance prospects in the CHL.
The natural, left-shooting center has created significant buzz of late, appearing in the top-10 of many reputable draft rankings. His progression has garnered the attention of a plethora of NHL teams; most notably the Montreal Canadiens.
A Target for the Montreal Canadiens
RG has first-hand knowledge of the methodical approach the Canadiens have taken to watch the young center in action. Their top scouts, including Co-Director of Amateur Scouting, Martin Lapointe, have been seen on many occasions at Moncton Wildcat games, be it at home and on the road. There have been sources that have confirmed that if available after the top five, Desnoyers would be their target with their first pick.
"It's obvious who they're focusing on,” said an NHL scout in an exclusive exchange with RG.
“They're very active when it comes to him."
Based on that, and the Canadiens’s obvious desire to win as much as possible this season, they may fall out of the top 5, potentially putting themselves out of range for the James Hagens, Michael Misa and Porter Martone tier.
If that does occur, Montreal would have one of the best “consolation prizes” in the draft, as Desnoyers would likely be available in the next tier and could help bolster a position of need at center.
"The Canadiens are intrigued with the total package he brings. He may not be the sexy pick everyone is looking at in the top-5, but he reminds me a lot of (Tij) Iginla's rise last year," said another NHL scout. "Like Iginla, he does everything well and has top-end scoring ability. He’s just starting to show it off now. I project him as a potential top-line player. Montreal has been intrigued for a while."
Rising Draft Stock
Draft Prospects Hockey has him rated in their top 10 in the latest draft list, ranking him seventh after previously having him on the fringe of their top-10. That could potentially be exactly where the Canadiens end up with the energy jolt they’ve gotten recently from the return of Patrik Laine.
For those in the scouting world, Desnoyers looks to not only be a sure-thing at the NHL level; possessing elite hockey IQ and compete; but has the untapped potential to further develop his skills to potentially become an impact top-end center.
A Resurgence For the QMJHL
It is evident that Desnoyers is currently seen as a top-10 prospect. He’s got NHL size already, he has listened to the critiques that more NHL scouts wanted to see a mean streak from him, and he has shown that this season. By adding that aggressive element to his game, few QMJHL defenders have been able to contain him; leading to long offensive zone possessions and a significant uptick in his scoring.
For Desnoyers, given all of that international success with Canada, and playing in top nine roles, it is somewhat surprising to see him being left off of Team Canada’s invitee list ahead of the 2025 World Junior Championships. While Canada could probably ice two gold medal contenders at this tournament, it is still odd to not see his name on the tryout camp list, especially after winning three gold medals in the last nine months.
For Montreal, their rebuild plan relies on selecting players that will be able to thrive under the intense scrutiny that their hockey market provides. They are also in search of players with character and a high work ethic to serve as a foundation to build on their high skill play. Desnoyers seems to have those characteristics as the young center is seen as an active learner. He is seen constantly talking to veterans and the coaching staff on the bench between plays.
But let’s not get it twisted; he’s certainly got the top-end skillset to go with that intriguing package. The former 1st overall pick in the 2023 QMJHL Draft has been on NHL teams’ radar for 4 years now, and he’s only scratching the surface of his potential.
Blain Potvin
