As we inch ever closer to the beginning of the new QMJHL season which gets underway on Friday, September 20th, we felt it would be a perfect time to give you our early thoughts on some of the best 2025 NHL draft talent that the QMJHL has to offer.
Although the QMJHL has ultimately produced some of the current NHL’s best talent, the last few drafts have been on the weaker side. In the 2024 NHL draft, there were no prospects hailing from the Q selected in the first round. A QMJHL hasn’t cracked the top 10 since 2020 when Rangers forward Alexis Lafrenière was chosen with the first overall pick. However, the 2025 class has shown some real promise leading into the season.
Please note that these players are listed in no particular order.
Caleb Desnoyers, C, Moncton Wildcats
2023 Stats: 68 GP- 20G-36A – 56P
I’ll begin this list with the Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec native Caleb Desnoyers. This is a player I have been following for a while now and is also the player I’ve had the opportunity to see live most on this list. Desnoyers is a very smart and dynamic playmaker who achieved nearly a point-per-game pace as a 16-year-old. He displays excellent vision and confidence with the puck, and while there have been some concerns with his skating, the offensive talent and vision make up the difference.
Desnoyers had an excellent showing at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup and helped Team Canada to a gold medal, where he posted five points in as many games. Additionally, Desnoyers will be playing under the legendary USports Coach Gardiner MacDougall who led the University of New Brunswick to countless AUS and National titles. MacDougall’s influence on his season could help to improve his game to a new level, as Moncton has made some big acquisitions and has assembled a team with real championship aspirations.
Standing at 6’2”, Desnoyers is currently poised to be selected somewhere in the 10-15 range on draft night. Expect a big season out of this guy in his draft-eligible season.
Emile Guite, LW, Chicoutimi Sagueneens
2023 Stats: 61 GP- 25G-32A – 57P
The next player to keep an eye on this season is Chicoutimi Winger Emile Guite. The reigning QMJHL rookie of the year started his rookie season somewhat poorly, but after an excellent showing in the U17 tournament in the fall, where he put up seven goals and three assists as Team Canada captured another gold medal, Guite returned to league play with vengeance. He managed to put together a much better second half, that allowed him to win the ROY honours.
Armed with an excellent and very accurate shot, Guite possesses an impressive scoring touch that would in theory translate very well to the NHL game. He is also a remarkable puck handler and positions himself very well on both ends of the ice. Based on the growth and improvement that Guite demonstrated in his rookie campaign, it is reasonable to assume that the Chamblay, Quebec native will have an even more impressive sophomore season. Chicoutimi has a very talented squad with a handful of dominant draft-eligible players that make them a must-watch this season.
While Guite is currently projected to land somewhere in the first to the second round, he is a definite candidate for a serious riser, and could certainly be a first-round talent.
Alex Huang, D, Chicoutimi Sagueneens
2023 Stats: 61 GP- 8G-28A – 36P
The first defenseman on my list, Huang is an offensive, puck-moving defenseman who hails from Rosemere, Quebec. Part of a very solid Chicoutimi squad, Huang had a very impressive rookie season in the QMJHL. At over .5PPG, he certainly made an impact on a good team.
Huang also represented Canada with many of the players on this list at the WHC-17 tournament with Team Canada White, where he produced two assists over eight games played. He also played on the Gold Medal-winning Hlinka-Gretzky team where he had two goals and two assists over five games.
Huang is a smooth skater, with excellent vision and offensive touch and is currently ranked in the late first to early second round of the upcoming draft, but I think he is another great candidate for a significant riser. With a big season this year, I think that this is a guy who can cement himself as a first-round talent.
Bill Zonnon, LW, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies
2023 Stats: 68 GP- 18G-40A – 58P
Zonnon has a late birthday in ’06, which means he is one of the older prospects in this draft class. A gifted playmaker and distributor, this Montreal native is drawing a lot of attention from NHL scouts. Zonnon was able to increase his production year over year in his first two years in the league and is projected to improve once again. With the departure of some key veterans, expect Zonnon to take on a bigger role this year for the Huskies.
Additionally, Zonnon represented Team Canada at the WHC-17 with Team Canada White, where he posted three points over seven games during the tournament. Zonnon has also been improving on the defensive side of the puck and is currently ranked to fall around the late first-round region. With two full seasons of experience under his belt, Bill Zonnon is a candidate to explode this season and potentially vault himself up the draft board.
Justin Carbonneau, RW, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada
2023 Stats: 68 GP- 31G-28A – 59P
Carbonneau is potentially the most exciting player on this list, he is armed with a heavy and accurate shot (some of his teammates noted that it was the best in the league), is a well above-average skater as well as a talented playmaker. He is coming off an excellent season with the Armada and is no doubt looking to follow it up this year.
Born in November of ’06, Carbonneau is another player who has the benefit of being older than many of his counterparts for this year’s draft and honestly, you can tell by watching him play. Carbonneau possesses a very complete game and has shown vast improvement with each year in the league. I think that he has a real chance at leading the Q in scoring this season, he truly is a gifted goal scorer. In interviews with his teammates, they all have nothing but good things to say about his attitude, drive, and dedication to improving.
Carbonneau is currently projected to go somewhere in the first round, but I think that with another excellent campaign, the 17-year-old will find himself called even sooner on draft night. If the Armada are playing your team, be sure to keep an eye on #8.
Gabriel D’Aigle, G, Victoriaville Tigres
2023 Stats: 13-6-2 – 3.87GAA – .879 SV%
D’Aigle is the first of two goalies on this list, and he is likely one of the better goaltending prospects in this year’s draft class. First, D’Aigle has one thing that all NHL scouts are looking for these days, and that is size. He was listed at 6’4” and 220lbs as a 16-year-old, which is exactly the frame that an NHL is looking for. D’Aigle also moves very well in his net and has great technical ability, however he has shown some inconsistency.
The Sorel, Quebec native has proven that he has the talent and all the tools to play at the next level, it is just a matter of putting it together and proving himself this year. He certainly has the attention of scouts, and I’m very excited to see what this season holds for him. He is currently ranked around the late second to early third range in the draft, which is very impressive for a goaltender at this stage, looks for a big season out of D’Aigle this year.
Florian Schenk, C, Saint John Seadogs
2023 Stats: 42 GP- 8G-17A – 25P (Swiss U20 – Elit)
Schenk is perhaps the most volatile choice that I have included in this list. The Swiss native has never played in North America and is making his QMJHL debut in Saint John on Friday night. Schenk posted very solid offensive numbers while playing for SC Bern in the Swiss U20 league as a 16-year-old. He is potentially the strongest prospect to come out of Switzerland in recent years.
Selected seventh overall in the QMJHL import draft, Schenk also played a key role for his country’s national team at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup with a goal and an assist over four games played. The young Swiss native has a big frame and still potentially has some growing to do. Standing at 6’3” and 198lbs he will be able to meet the physical demands of playing in the ‘Q’.
The talent is certainly there, and Schenk is a player that I will certainly be keeping a close eye on for the upcoming season. Although he currently isn’t ranked by any outlets, I have no doubts that a strong Q campaign will put many NHL scouts on notice.
Liam Kilfoil, C, Halifax Mooseheads
2023 Stats: 62 GP- 9G-11A – 20P
Moving away from the province of Quebec, we have Quispamsis, NB native Liam Kilfoil. Kilfoil is a dynamic center who has represented Team Canada at the junior level two times. Playing for Team Canada Red at the WHC-17 and with a solid showing for Team Canada at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup where he posted three points over five games in the tournament.
While his offensive numbers aren’t eye-popping, it is very important to consider that he was playing on a very offensively talented Mooseheads team and will certainly be getting a bigger piece of the action this season. With Columbus Blue Jackets draft pick Jordan Dumais heading to the AHL and forward Markus Vidicek being traded to Moncton as well as Vegas Golden Knights draft pick Mathieu Cataford heading to Rimouski, there will be a need for someone to play those time powerplay and first-line minutes, and I think Kilfoil has an opportunity to be that guy.
Lucas Beckman, G, Baie Comeau Drakkar
2023 Stats: 7-1 – 1.32GAA – .938 SV%
Lucas Beckman is the second and final goalie on this list, who is currently playing for the Baie Comeau Drakkar. During a year that saw many different goalies starting for the Drakkar, Beckman posted an excellent stat line during his rookie campaign.
Baie Comeau had a stacked team last year, ultimately losing in the finals to Drummondville, and are expected to have a rock-solid team this year again, with many NHL draft selections returning for the 2024-2025. Although many of the skaters have returned, it would appear that the net is Beckman’s alone. This increase in volume is certainly a challenge for a young goaltender, but based on a small sample size, he appears ready for it.
Beckman is of average size for the modern goalie, standing at 6’1”, and had the opportunity to represent Team Canada at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup. He had one start in which he let in one goal and got the win for Team Canada. Beckman looks to add to this success as the Drakkar take another run at the Memorial Cup this season.
Louis-Alex Tremblay, D, Sherbrooke Phoenix
2023 Stats: 55 GP- 7G-26A – 33P
Tremblay is a very skilled, yet slightly undersized defenseman, who is about to enter his second season in the QMJHL. He posted impressive offensive numbers but appeared to have struggled on the defensive side of the puck as he was minus-13 on a strong Sherbrooke team. While there are certain areas identified for improvement, the talent and skill are undeniable.
Look for him to take on a bigger share of the minutes this season, as he works to round out his game and improve his physicality. With another good season under his belt, I feel that Tremblay could fall somewhere around the third round this summer.
I hope that you enjoyed my list of the early look at this year’s draft prospects and remember to keep an eye out for the mid-season updates!
