Top of the Draft: Introducing Caleb Desnoyers

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).

CALEB DESNOYERS SCORES HIS FIRST OF THE TOURNAMENT TO TIE THE GAME! ? pic.twitter.com/GLfCKLtmgp

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) May 30, 2025

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.

Caleb Desnoyers is making a strong impression on his draft stock right now. There is a very real