For the first time in the history of the NHL, no QMJHL players have been drafted in the first round for two years in a row.
In 2023, Ethan Gauthier was the first player selected from the QMJHL (Tampa Bay, 37th overall). In this same draft, only 12 of 224, or 5.36% of all drafted players were from the QMJHL. This accounts for the lowest percentage of QMJHL prospects selected in a draft since the 1970 draft.
The last two prospects to be drafted in the first round from the QMJHL were Nathan Gaucher (Anaheim, 22nd overall) and Maveric Lamoureux (Arizona, 29th overall). The 2020 NHL draft was the last time a QMJHL player was drafted first overall with the New York Rangers winning the Alexis Lafreniere sweepstakes after an NHL regular season halted by COVID-19.
Have the past few years shown that the QMJHL is on the decline when it comes to producing quality prospects? Well, not necessarily. The 2021 NHL draft saw four players in Zachary Bolduc (St. Louis, 17th overall), Xavier Bourgault (Edmonton, 22nd overall), Zachary L’Heureux (Nashville, 27th overall) and Zachary Dean (Vegas, 30th overall) all drafted in the first round. While there have not been as many in recent years, every league goes through rough patches once in a while, it’s normal.
But for this draft, this question will truly be answered after the second day. Just because there are no prospects selected in the first round doesn’t mean there are no prospects to show for.
There are still some quality players expecting to hear their name in later rounds including Maxim Masse, Spencer Gill and Justin Poirier.
