The 2024-25 QMJHL finals begins tonight with the Memorial Cup host Rimouski Océanic (12-3-2) taking on the regular season leaders, the Moncton Wildcats (12-1-0).
Both teams boast some of the deepest and strongest rosters in the entire CHL, including both key NHL affiliated talents and those yet to have been drafted or signed.
We've already looked at the top five non-NHL affliated players (including draft prospects and free agents). Now, here's five key NHL prospects to watch in this series.
1. Mathieu Cataford (Rimouski Océanic, Vegas Golden Knights)
Mathieu Cataford is a true swiss army knife. The Vegas Golden Knights third rounder in 2023 is an all situations forward who thrives in all three zones. Winner of the 2024 Michel Bergeron Trophy for league MVP, Cataford tallied 64 points (19+45) through 54 games. Unfortunately an injury has only allowed for six games of playoff hockey this season for Cataford, however he's been electric with 11 points (5+6) in that span.
Flames First Rounder Expected To Leave QMJHL, Turn Pro
The Shawinigan Cataractes secured their star last season in <a href="https://thn.com/calgary">Calgary Flames</a> first round draft pick, <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/international">Russian</a> forward Matvei Gridin.
2. Juraj Pekarcik (Moncton Wildcats, St. Louis Blues)
St. Louis Blues third rounder Juraj Pekarcik was the Moncton Wildcats' biggest off-season add in a season of buying, adding the rights to the Slovak forward from Acadie-Bathurst -- who played in the USHL last season. He would explode for 67 points (24+43) over 53 games in his rookie QMJHL season, before staying hot in the playoffs with 14 points (6+8) through 13 games. Pekarcik will look to continue to be the Wildcats primary playmaking threat.
3. Etienne Morin (Moncton Wildcats, Calgary Flames)
While most of the NHL affiliated defensemen in this series are shutdown types, like Bruins prospect Loke Johansson and Predators prospect Dylan MacKinnon on Moncton and both Panthers prospect Luke Coughlin and Canucks prospect Basille Sansonnens with Rimouski, Calgary Flames prospect Etienne Morin remains one of the few exceptions. The former second rounder in 2023 offers a strong offensive game matched with the kind of gritty physical style suited for the playoffs. As such his point totals have risen from 58 points (14+44) over 62 regular season games with Moncton in the regular season to 13 points (1+12) through 13 games this post-season.
Given his goalscoring prowess as a former 20 goal scoring blueliner, it is a bit surprising he has only one goal this playoffs, and as such, that may be something to watch.
Top Remaining QMJHL Overage Free Agents
With the November ruling allowing CHL players to play Division-I US collegiate hockey, most QMJHL overage players have already found commitments for next season, whether in the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/ncaa">NCAA</a>, U Sports or professional hockey.
4. Alexandre Blais (Rimouski Océanic, Anaheim Ducks)
Taken at 100th overall in the 2024 NHL draft, Anaheim Ducks prospect Alexandre Blais is already looking like a potential gem, tallying 73 points (20+53) through 60 games. He's Rimouski's main playmaker, with 12 assists and five goals through 17 games in the post-season. He also boasts a league best +18 in the post-season, showing his lines' ability to surpress the other team while generating offense of its own -- a feat all the more impressive given he's slotted on Rimouski's second line.
5. Gabe Smith (Moncton Wildcats, Utah Mammoth)
Each year, the playoffs prove to be the ultimate test for players -- a test that star players fail and otherwise depth players may pass. This season, Utah Mammoth fourth round pick Gabe Smith has risen to the occassion. After a career best 39 point (20+19) season with the Wildcats through 52 games, the 6-foot-5 centerman has taken the next step in the post-season with 17 points (4+13) through 13 games. Smith is an unlikely hero, given that in his 16 QMJHL playoff games before this season, he was only able to manage a single goal. Smith's emergeance as an offense force this playoffs should lead to a permanent fixture in Moncton's top six next season.
33 QMJHL Skaters And Six Goaltenders Make NHL Central Scouting's Final Rankings
NHL Central Scouting's final rankings for the 2025 NHL entry draft are officially here. 39 QMJHL talents are featured on this iteration of the list -- including <a href="https://media.d3.nhle.com/image/private/t_document/prd/zgqnbu6snufgqsqrdvjg.pdf">33 skaters</a> and <a href="https://media.d3.nhle.com/image/private/t_document/prd/vmgusukenf2fcvhvk98g.pdf">six goaltenders</a>.
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