A retooled Cataractes team boasts some very interesting pieces.
After a run to the second round of the playoffs in 2025-26, the Shawinigan Cataractes have been poised to begin a retool and start looking forward to the next generation of players.
This summer was a big step in that direction, moving out key players in Cole Chandler and Elias Schneider in a trade, while other big pieces like Felix Lacerte, Jiri Klima and Mathys Fernandez moving on.
While Shawinigan will be much younger in the new campaign, that doesn't necessarily mean they will be less fun to watch. A lot of the pieces added this summer have been pretty fun, or have some real potential.
The Shawinigan Cataractes will be quite a bit younger in 2026-27. (Photo: Vincent Létourneau)The most intriguing of the signings has to be import Vladimir Shtyrkhunov, a Russian blueliner projected to go as high as the first round in next summer's NHL draft.
Alongside him joins fellow Russian Petr Novozhilov, while Gleb Ovkhovik rounds out the import core in Shawinigan.
Some other key additions include William Yared and Alexis Fortin through trade, and recent fourth and sixth overall QMJHL draft picks Pierre-Alexandre Lemieux and Julien Bergeron will each try and make some level of noise in their rookie years as well.
There are also some returning players such as Chad Lygitsakos, Kody Dupuis and Jonathan Prud'homme who will likely step into even bigger roles this year.
There's been a ton of turnover with the Cataractes after a solid year, but they should still be an interesting team to watch as the 2026-27 season commences.
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