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.This guy has the chance to be the next great 2 way C in the NHL one day like a Couturier, O'Reilly type
Desnoyers over Frondell???
Bergeron pt2???
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.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.
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.
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.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.
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.
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!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.
So you think he can be a really good 1C and his likely projection is a low-end 1C?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.
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.
I wouldn't say his Likely projection is a 1C (Couturier, O'Reilly) but it's definitely a realistic possibility!So you think he can be a really good 1C and his likely projection is a low-end 1C?
You're right their statistical profile is similar but I don't really see that stylistic fit.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'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.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!
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.
Ah, so this is an "anything can happen" post, not something based in reality.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
Every player has a potential ceiling, mid tier and low end.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.