C Caleb Desnoyers - Now plays for the Moncton Wildcats; certified studmuffin, will be first round pick, QMJHL (2025 Draft)
- Thread starter GermanSpitfire
- Start date
This guy has the chance to be the next great 2 way C in the NHL one day like a Couturier, O'Reilly type
Jabba11
Hockey Lobby
I watched a lot of Sean Couturier (videos and in person) back during his time with the Voltigeurs. Caleb definitely has a meaner streak and mentality than Couts did. Couts was world class defender but Caleb seem to have that dogg mentality that I think will make him a tremendous player in the league.
AintLifeGrand
Burnin Jet-A
JadedRandom
Registered User
Frondell has better tools in my opinion, but I like Desnoyers' hockey IQ more.
Right now I'd have Frondell slightly ahead in a draft ranking, but there's still lots of time for me to change my mind.
Fact of the matter is that I've already changed my mind on this very subject multiples times just this season alone.
Before and very early on in the season I had Frondell ahead of Desnoyers, then around mid-November I switched and had Desnoyers a bit higher, and now from late February-on I've had Frondell higher again.
I have however been consistent in where I see both players if we take the entire draft class into consideration; in the top-6/7 of all players available dating back to pre-season.
Should finish the year at around 1.5 points per game. Given that he has projectable NHL size, premium position and the production to boot, would be surprised if he doesn't fit in the 3-6 range.
As much as I like Desnoyers, I do think his production is a little inflated this year, just because of the schedule.
In the Q, the schedule of Maritime teams is hugely skewed toward intra-division games: they play something like 60% of their games against each other. Which is really nice for a team like Moncton this year, because the rest of their division is pretty weak. Desnoyers has played a lot more games against basement teams than against contenders this season, and there's a pretty large disparity in how he produces against these groups (around 2 PPG against the former, slightly under a PPG against the latter).
It's not a big deal; everyone who watches him play knows what he brings to the table regardless. But there is reason to question whether he has 1C upside. It's why I'm really curious how he does in the playoffs, against tougher opposition (and by playoffs, I mean from the semis onward; Moncton will likely sleepwalk through the first 2 rounds). Not that I doubt his ability to shine in high-pressure games (he's always played really well internationally), but I think it could make a big difference in where he's picked.
In the Q, the schedule of Maritime teams is hugely skewed toward intra-division games: they play something like 60% of their games against each other. Which is really nice for a team like Moncton this year, because the rest of their division is pretty weak. Desnoyers has played a lot more games against basement teams than against contenders this season, and there's a pretty large disparity in how he produces against these groups (around 2 PPG against the former, slightly under a PPG against the latter).
It's not a big deal; everyone who watches him play knows what he brings to the table regardless. But there is reason to question whether he has 1C upside. It's why I'm really curious how he does in the playoffs, against tougher opposition (and by playoffs, I mean from the semis onward; Moncton will likely sleepwalk through the first 2 rounds). Not that I doubt his ability to shine in high-pressure games (he's always played really well internationally), but I think it could make a big difference in where he's picked.
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Does anyone know if he has a lingering injury? He has barely taken a faceoff in a month and missed today's game. Weird considering he is good at them.
Here's my Scouting Report on Caleb Desnoyers. 26 games worth of highlights.
Another thing to note though is that with how great Moncton is, he also isn’t playing with other elite offensive players you usually see on these top teams which artificially inflates how good a player is offensively as well. He is by and far the most offensively gifted player on the team.
I agree I don’t see true 1C potential in him though, but a great 2C anyone would be happy getting somewhere in picks 5-10.
With the way he competes and the lack of quality in 2025 I have a very hard time seeing him be a bad draft pick wherever he gets taken this Summer. Makes me think Richards more than Couturier if we're going for ex Flyers centers. There are definitely more talented players in this first round, but Desnoyers checks the boxes for size, speed, and, most importantly, the mentality—making him a strong candidate to be an effective NHL center.
I couldn't stand Kesler but the f***ing guy played his guts out. Even gave him an ulcer IIRC. 1C isn't super likely but that is only one out of four C positions on a hockey team. The rest are real important too.
I couldn't stand Kesler but the f***ing guy played his guts out. Even gave him an ulcer IIRC. 1C isn't super likely but that is only one out of four C positions on a hockey team. The rest are real important too.
It's true that guys like Sumpf or Pekarcik aren't high-caliber offensive prospects, though they're certainly not chumps at that level. And the vast majority of Desnoyers's production comes at ES (for as dominant as Moncton has been offensively, their PP is really average). He does earn his points, even though I wish less of them came from playing Saint John and Halifax.
It's easy to project him as a good two-way middle-6 center, which is a very valuable type of player that teams either have or desperately want. That said, it's rare to see a forward that doesn't really have an elite toolkit be projected to go so high in the draft. I think the fact that he's popping up on lists st 3, 4, 5 is mostly a reflection that scouts don't think that highly of the top-end of this draft.
Kingpin794
Smart A** In A Jersey
Idk if its an indictment of the quality of the top of the class. Its more that GM's would rather take a for sure middle six forward instead of swinging and missing on someone with a higher offensive ceiling. Desnoyers is almost certainly going to be a 3C at worst. Tops out at a good 2C. GM's will take that 9/10 compared to say someone like Cameron Schmidt, who will go lower because he's more boom or bust.
But that's exactly it. Generally, scouts aren't that concerned about picks being "boom or bust" in the top 5. Being considered a safer pick than Cameron Schmidt is one thing. Being considered a safer pick than Hagens, Martone, Frondell, McQueen, Eklund, O'Brien is another. Generally, scouts are comfortable betting on the guys with elite attributes and high upside over the "safer" picks. Seeing lists with Desnoyers above Hagens/Martone, who have significantly better skillsets at this point, suggests they have significant concerns with these players going forward.
Not that this really means anything at this point. Barring an awesome playoff/Mem Cup run with the Wildcats, which is possible, I personally doubt we see Desnoyers picked top 5 in June.
People who have him close to top 5 in the draft probably project him to actually be a future selke contender, which isn't hard to see with his great two way game and compete!
If he hits the higher end of the offensive potential and becomes a 70 point guy, that's Sean Couturier or Ryan O'Reilly.
Even if he hits his mid teir, that could like something like Joel Eriksson Ek or Phil Danault.
Juxtaposer
Outro: Divina Comedia
So you think he can be a really good 1C and his likely projection is a low-end 1C?
Fixed to Ruin
Come wit it now!
Ive compared Desnoyers to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins who went #1 in his draft year. Desnoyers stat line with Moncton this season is very similar to Nugent-Hopkins stat line in his draft year with Red Deer.
Nugent-Hopkins at 31 is a productive offensive complementary player who plays on the top PP and the top PK in Edmonton.
I can see Desnoyers trending in that direction.
I wouldn't say his Likely projection is a 1C (Couturier, O'Reilly) but it's definitely a realistic possibility!
We always here two way centres that come through the draft compared to all the previous NHL selke winners, but CD actually has that potential IMO
You're right their statistical profile is similar but I don't really see that stylistic fit.
RNH more purely skilled, Desnoyers a lot more
Compete and projects to be Stonger and Bigger.
IQ is similar tho!
Fixed to Ruin
Come wit it now!
I'm planning on seeing Desnoyers in person very soon so it will be interesting to see if my opinion changes when I'm not watching on video.
I will say that RNH is sneaky tough and difficult to play against when he's firing on all cylinders.
There's similarities compared with draft year RNH. Both smart, polished, lanky centers. Both primarily playmakers (though with different playstyles). Both April-born. Both playing on dominant junior teams where they're the primary offensive driver.
Beyond that they play(ed) pretty differently. RNH was a more typical cerebral, high-skill type. Better skater, better hands, better vision, more creativity than Desnoyers right now. Accordingly, much better on the PP (though less productive at ES). Also a bit smaller and much weaker. Desnoyers is still kind of a twig, but he's a way more effective physical force than RNH at that age. Better along the boards. Better defensively. Makes short quick passes and drives the middle of the ice.
Juxtaposer
Outro: Divina Comedia
Ah, so this is an "anything can happen" post, not something based in reality.
You said his "mid-tier", which I'm assuming means "average outcome", is Joel Eriksson-Ek or Phillip Danault, who are both Selke-level defensive centers and in JEE's case, a legitimate low-end 1C. If Desnoyers' expected outcome is JEE, he should go 2nd overall. I have yet to see anyone reputable suggest that.
Every player has a potential ceiling, mid tier and low end.
Yes Desnoyers does have a realistic outcome where he can be a low end 1C, but I think it's more probable he hits the aforementioned mid tier - aka JEE, who has had only 2 seasons over 50 points in his career and he was drafted 10 years ago. No Selke nominees let alone winning the award, so yes a good mid tier outcome for Desnoyers.
As many have said about about Desnoyers, he doesn't have the highest ceiling but he plays such a sound, pro game where even his mid tier is a really good player, his ceiling just isn't a superstar level player. And like you said, even with that outcome that should mean he should go really high in the draft, where you're wrong is many reputable sources (like Pronman, Wheeler and Cam Robinson) HAVE all said a lot NHL people they talk to have CD firmly in the top 5 and could go as high as the top 3.
I scrolled down too fast and got excited that this dudes last name was Destroyer. Was disappointed it was not.
That is all.
That is all.
