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Top of the Draft: Introducing Caleb Desnoyers

One of the top players from the QMJHL could be Chicago’s choice at No. 3.

Posted on by L_B_R
Source: QMJHL (Daniel St. Louis)

Caleb Desnoyers is projected to be the prototypical modern two-way center: high hockey IQ, strong in all zones, offensively polished, and an elite faceoff talent. Like with some other players expected to be taken near the top of the 2025 NHL Draff, there are some questions about ceiling: he’s expected to develop into a dependable middle-six center with some potential to grow into a top-line role if he can work out some offensive kinks to his game.

Summary

Desnoyers has been on most scouts’ radar as a potential top pick in the 2025 NHL draft since he joined the Moncton Wildcats in 2023 as the No. 1 overall pick in the QMJHL draft. But it was really this past season when he emerged as one of the the QMJHL’s elite two-way centers that his stock rose dramatically. Desnoyers led his team with 84 points (35 G, 49 A) in 56 regular-season games then added another 30 points (9 G, 21 A) in 23 postseason games, leading Moncton to the Memorial Cup semifinals. He did this as the youngest player on his team while battling with some wrist injuries.

Desnoyers’ performance earned him the Guy Lafleur Trophy as playoff MVP, a feat matched by just three other draft-eligible players this century: Sidney Crosby (2005), Jonathan Huberdeau (2011), and Jonathan Drouin (2013). There is some concern that his shooting percentage (22 percentage) in the playoffs was unsustainable, especially considering his shot is not his strength (more on that below).

Desnoyers has also made his mark on the international stage, winning three gold medals in less than a year. His first gold was won at the 2023 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, where he had five points (3 G, 2 A) in eight games as part of Canada White’s roster. Then he notched five points (1 G, 4 A) in five games at the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship. Finally, Desnoyers followed that up mirroring his U18 production at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

With such accomplishments under his belt, why is there some debate over Desnoyers as a top-five pick? Some of it is league quality, but mostly there is concern that some of his tools aren’t high-end enough for him to be destined for the top line of an NHL team’s offense. He has arguably one of the strongest floors in the 2025 draft class, but many believe higher ceiling players should be selected before him.

Strengths

Desnoyers is a well-rounded player whose style relies on his strong hockey sense, elite playmaking, and two-way intelligence. 

Offensively, Desnoyers thrives as a playmaker with elite hockey vision and a creative style, often scanning for high-danger options and creating scoring chances that few others would even attempt. Whether he’s threading a no-look pass through traffic in the offensive zone or springing a teammate in stride on the rush, his vision and anticipation are already drawing pro-level comparisons. 

Desnoyers has been quite good in transition too, a natural play-driver with the ability to drive play through the neutral zone, create off the rush, and connect all three zones with poise. He relies more on his passing ability with clean, reliable outlets rather than his skating, but he can carry the puck through traffic and has also shown he can evade pressure during breakouts.

Defensively, Desnoyers is already a fairly polished 200-foot player. He reads plays well, anticipates passing lanes, and regularly puts himself in the right spots to break up plays or apply pressure on the backcheck. He can be physical when needed, but he typically relies on an active stick and pressures puck carriers intelligently without overcommitting. Desnoyers also regularly turned good defense into offense, picking off passes and/or forcing turnovers to create scoring chances for his own team.

Weaknesses

Though not necessarily undersized, Desnoyers still has room to add strength to his 6-foot-1, 182-pound frame and needs to work on his conditioning. It would definitely help when it comes to the physical way he likes to play: he already tries to play bigger than he is, but occasionally runs into issues when challenged in board battles or when playing through contact.

Additional strength could also help with his skating, which is at best average in terms of acceleration — not that it’s held him back in terms of being efficient in transition, but there are concerns over his pace.

While Desnoyers has shown the ability to be a capable scorer, his shot lacks the elite power or quick release seen in top-tier finishers. He’s been effective at the junior level but will require further refinement in terms of shot mechanics to consistently beat NHL goaltenders, especially as he tends to shoot more from mid-danger areas.

Desnoyers’ decision-making can get ahead of him at times: although playmaking is one of his strengths, he likes to try high-difficulty plays, which can result in failed connections or neutral zone clears. These missed passes usually are the result of him forcing the puck through traffic, leading to unnecessary turnovers. Sharpening his consistency and simplifying his game in certain situations could elevate his overall impact.

Despite being solid defensively overall, there are stretches when his defensive engagement wanes, suggesting room for growth in maintaining consistency away from the puck. He needs to be more consistent in backchecking to solidify his role as a reliable 200-foot player at the next level, but that may go hand in hand with adding more strength to his game as mentioned above.

Quotes

There are some evaluators who see Desnoyers as a first-line center, such an The Athletic‘s Corey Pronman:

“Desnoyers was one of the best players in the QMJHL this season as a leader on the top team in the league. The No. 1 pick in his QMJHL Draft, he checks every box for what you want in an NHL center. He’s tall and fast and makes a lot happen with and without the puck. Desnoyers displays excellent skill and playmaking ability. He creates offense on the move, off the perimeter and at the net. He has great creativity as a playmaker, while also being a detailed two-way player. Desnoyers can be trusted to check top players as he has a physical edge in his game and gives a high effort every game. He has the potential to be a No. 1 center who can play in any situation.”

One such top-line center Desnoyers says he models his game after is Jonathan Toews, which is always nice to hear as a Blackhawks fan:

But many evaluators, like Scott Wheeler from The Athletic, see him more as a mix of Sean Monahan, Elias Lindholm and Nico Hischier rather than a future Selke candidate:

“Some have used Jonathan Toews, and while I get it, I’m not going to position Desnoyers as a future Hall of Famer here. The names above feel more natural and likely comps. All are around 6-1 and are two-way centers who understand the details, the little things that contribute to winning and have provided legit offense (though in Monahan’s case, it’s been more inconsistent). Monahan was taken sixth and Lindholm was taken fifth. I think Desnoyers probably has a better career than Monahan and Lindholm and is a better prospect at the same age, but there are a lot of lines to draw between him and them. Hischier is within reach as well, though I don’t think they fit together quite as well stylistically.”

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