Caleb DESNOYERS

Center
6’2/172
Left
Moncton Wildcats/QMJHL

Related: Roger McQueen

Caleb Desnoyers was taken first overall in the 2023 QMJHL Draft, he made an immediate impact, playing around 20 minutes a night as a rookie while showing speed, skill and two-way smarts. He’s not someone who’ll get caught slacking off and just floating around – he’s fully committed to getting the puck every time he can. At 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, he put on some serious muscle since his QMJHL Draft year. There’s a lot to like about Desnoyers, who could give the Q a much-needed top prospect after very little representation in 2024. Desnoyers is a player who just looks like a pro. He’s got great habits. He’s committed to playing defense, supporting pucks, staying in good positions and not cheating for offense. Caleb Desnoyers has the potential to be a 2nd line center in the NHL and if he develops his offensive game more a first-line center. Desnoyers’ entire game is on the rise. He’s engaged in all three zones and competes for pucks in traffic. Desnoyers is a threat to produce off the rush. He has the vision and patience to slow things down and wait for options to present themselves. He has the hockey sense, and commitment, to be thrust into a variety of roles. Desnoyers makes plays in traffic and is especially creative on the power play.

Size/Strength Great
Skating Great
Shot/Scoring Good
Puckhandling Great
Physical Play Great
Offensive Play Great
Defensive Play Excellent
Hockey Sense Excellent
Competitiveness Excellent

Strengths

1 Desnoyers is a player who just looks like a pro. He’s got great habits, committed to playing defense, supporting pucks, staying in good positions and not cheating for offense.
2 He has the vision and patience to slow things down and wait for options to present themselves; has the hockey sense, and commitment, to be thrust into a variety of roles.
3 Desnoyers makes plays in traffic and is especially creative on the power play.

Areas of Improvement

1 Might not have as high an upside as other players
2 Still needs to round out his offensive game

Scouting Report

Caleb Desnoyers currently plays for the Moncton Wildcats in the QMJHL, is a top prospect for the 2025 NHL Draft. Standing at 6’2″ and 180 pounds, he is known for his well-rounded game and high hockey IQ. In his rookie QMJHL season, he tallied 56 points (20 goals, 36 assists) in 60 games, showcasing both offensive and defensive prowess. Desnoyers is off to an excellent start to the season, tallying 15 goals, 22 assists, and 37 points in 24 games. Desnoyers excels in skating, with a long, powerful stride and quick acceleration, making him effective in both forechecking and defensive coverage. Offensively, he is a dual threat as a playmaker and scorer. His vision and puck-handling skills create scoring chances, while his shot, though still developing, shows promise with techniques like his drag-and-shoot move. He averaged nearly six shot attempts per game at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, though his release remains a work in progress. Defensively, Desnoyers is reliable, demonstrating strong positioning, backchecking, and face-off skills, with a 69% success rate in the circle. His physicality and willingness to engage in battles further enhance his game. Leadership traits are evident, as he served as an assistant captain for Team Canada in various international tournaments, including the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and U17 World Championships​. Desnoyers has drawn comparisons to players like Sean Couturier for his two-way play and maturity, though some see potential for offensive upside akin to Jonathan Huberdeau’s earlier career. Scouts rank him among the top 10 prospects for the 2025 draft, and his combination of skill, physicality, and intelligence makes him a highly sought-after talent.

Skill: Complete Two-way Center, with high Hockey IQ and intangebiles

NHL Comparable: Sean Couturier

NHL Potential: Top 6 Center

Season	Team	League	GP	G	PTS
2023-24	Moncton Wilcats	QMJHL	60	20	56
	Canada White U17 “A”	WHC-17	8	3	5
	Canada U18	WJC-18	5	1	5
2024-25	Canada U18 “A”	Hlinka Gretzky Cup	5	1	5
	Moncton Wildcats	QMJHL	24	15	37