By Kristina Rutherford
Following a standout season, Caleb Desnoyers has significantly climbed up the NHL Draft rankings. As the youngest player on the Moncton Wildcats, he was his team`s leading scorer during the regular season, tallying 84 points (35 goals, 49 assists) over 54 games.
The skilled center continued his excellent performance in the playoffs, accumulating 30 points in 19 games. He was instrumental in leading his team to its first QMJHL championship in ten years, earning the Guy Lafleur Trophy as the playoff MVP. His team`s successful run extended to the Memorial Cup tournament, where they reached the semifinal.
Remarkably, Desnoyers achieved these results despite playing with injured wrists for a significant portion of the season. He confirmed this to reporters at the 2025 NHL Scouting Combine, explaining that his injuries prevented him from participating in the fitness tests. At that time, he was still awaiting the results of scans on both wrists.
As the hockey community anticipates the 2025 NHL Draft, there`s considerable interest in where top prospects such as Desnoyers will be selected. Let`s take a more detailed look at this highly-rated draft-eligible center ahead of Friday`s draft in Los Angeles.
Team: Moncton Wildcats
Position: Centre
Shoots: Left
Hometown: Saint-Hyacinthe, Que.
Age: 18 (April 11, 2007)
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 173 pounds
What scouts are saying
Scouts highly value Caleb Desnoyers` exceptional hockey sense, considering it among the best in the draft class. According to veteran scout Jason Bukala of Sportsnet, “Desnoyers thinks the game at an elite level.” Bukala notes his strategic approach on the rush, his ability to attack rapidly or pause to assess and pass. He adds, “It`s nearly impossible to teach forwards to play the game the way Desnoyers does.”
Beyond his clear offensive talent, Desnoyers also contributed to Moncton`s penalty kill. Bukala highlights his versatility, stating Desnoyers can perform effectively in any game situation, including defensively. “Desnoyers is the kind of player who can be thrust into a variety of roles,” says Bukala. “He takes pride in competing and providing positive results in all three zones.”
Who needs healthy wrists?
The fact that Desnoyers played through the season with injured wrists raises questions, primarily: how much better could he have been fully healthy? Despite the injuries, he still significantly improved his draft projection. He led the QMJHL in faceoff percentage (63.7%), finished 5th in overall league scoring, guided his team to the QMJHL title, and became the first draft-eligible player since Jonathan Drouin in 2013 to win the playoff MVP award.
A common criticism is that his shot isn`t as powerful or released as quickly as other top prospects. Healthy wrists would undoubtedly help him refine this area. However, his high hockey IQ compensates; he had a 19.9% shooting percentage in the regular season, demonstrating his ability to find prime scoring opportunities. He also led the QMJHL with 11 game-winning goals. While his ability to translate his shot, accuracy, and clutch performance to the professional level remains to be seen, his performance shows considerable promise.
Captain Caleb
Earlier this month, during a Wildcats team event, Desnoyers was announced as the team captain for the upcoming season. He expressed in a press release that it was “an incredible honour” and stated, “I take a lot of pride in wearing this jersey, and I`m committed to leading by example on and off the ice. I`m excited for the season ahead and ready to help our team chase and build something very special.”
However, like all prospects, Desnoyers aspires to reach the NHL as quickly as possible. He also now has the option to play in the NCAA, as junior players are allowed to transition to college hockey once they reach college age.
His future path, including whether he will indeed wear the `C` for Moncton next season, is uncertain. What is definite is that on Friday, he will learn which NHL team selects him, and he is expected to be a high pick.
