With the smoke of the starting gun still up in the air, it's time to take another look at the QMJHL's 2025 NHL Draft eligibles.
Since our last look in July, a few things have happened.
A number of the league's top draft eligibles participated in the 2024 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup -- with five winning Gold with Team Canada.
Additionally, the league has seen an influx of players via the 2024 CHL import draft.
Many pundits are considering this year to be a bounce back year for the QMJHL, which has recently struggled to produce first-round talent.
If you want to read more about our deep dive into the declining QMJHL presence in the NHL Draft, click below.
This article will look at 25 first time eligible players, including 20 skaters and five goaltenders. This section will be split into three sections, sections A, B, C.
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Apart from these distinctions, the players will not be ranked -- instead listed in alphabetical order. Players within the A and B category will also have small blurbs attached.
Below the 25-player list, will be a handful of draft re-entry candidates to keep track of throughout the season.
Given that these players weren't taken last year and that they likely haven't played much or at all this season, they will be unranked.
It is important to note that since 2005, on average there have been 21.1 QMJHLers taken each draft. Although that number is declining, only averaging 18.8 over the last 10 drafts despite the increased number of picks per draft.
So it's unrealistic to assume that each player listed below should get picked, but it should serve as broad list of players to keep track on throughout the 2024-25 season.
Now, enough of the fillibustering, and let's get to the list.
A-List:
D Alex Huang (Chicoutimi)
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Alex Huang checks a lot of boxes for scouts. Righty defender who is capable in both ends. Two points and a prominent role in Canada's gold medal run at the Hlinka helps his case.
C Caleb Desnoyers (Moncton)
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Desnoyers has come out of the gate as the Q's top prospect so far. A complete player, he was an every-situation player for Canada at the Hlinka -- a rarity for the team. He's already appeared in Bob McKenzie's Top-10.
LW Emile Guite (Chicoutimi)
Guite looks to be the premier offensive dynamo of the draft class. He's a volume shooter with an arsenal of ways to pick apart goalies -- which was on full display at the HGC, and the Under-17's before then.
RW Justin Carbonneau (Blainville-Boisbriand)
Justin Carbonneau is the type of modern power forwards that scouts drool over. He's got great speed, vision and uses cheeky board plays to break past defenders on the rush. Not to mention, he's already got 5 points in his first two games this season.
B-List:
LW Bill Zonnon (Rouyn-Noranda)
Bill Zonnon is a player who could very well break into A-List territory soon. He's a smart power forward, whose already fairly physically mature -- thanks in part to him being one of the older draft eligibles.
D Carlos Handel (Halifax)
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Handel came over to Halifax for the 2024-25 season, after a strong Under-18 season in Malmo. Handel will look to be a minute eating, responsible defenseman that can chip in offensive when necessary.
G Gabriel D'Aigle (Victoriaville)
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Gabriel D'Aigle was looking like the 2025 draft class's top goalie prospect going into last year, but after a down year that saw his save percentage drop from .894 to .879. With Victoriaville incurring some major losses to depth and star talent, it'll be all on D'Aigle to rise to the occasion.
C Liam Kilfoil (Halifax)
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Kilfoil is quickly becoming one of the draft's earliest risers, thanks to his strong performance on the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup. On a leaner Mooseheads squad, Kilfoil will no longer be solely relied upon as a checking forward and should have the opportunity to show the offensive side of his game that we saw glimpsed of at the HGC,
G Lucas Beckman (Baie-Comeau)
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Lucas Beckman has been the gift that keeps on giving. Ever since he's joined the Drakkar at the turn of the New Year, Beckman has been stone cold, posting a 7-1-1 record. He also backed up the Gold medal winning Team Canada at the Hlinka, rocking a .964 in his one start. With Baie-Comeau trading overager Gravel, Beckman is in a prime position to show both the QMJHL and the NHL what he's made of.
D Owen Conrad (Charlottetown)
Owen Conrad is a 21st century shut down blueliner. He brings a defense-first approach, who defends with his stick before his body -- which may hold him back a bit if he doesn't lean into his size. However, his offensive game seems to be coming along well.
C/LW Philippe Veilleux (Val-d'Or)
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Veilleux is a player who has the perfect combination of skill and opportunity to rise up the rankings. On a weaker Val-d'Or team, he'll be relied upon once again as the team's top offensive drivers.
C-List:
C Andreas Straka (Quebec)
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C Cole Chandler (Shawinigan)
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G Emile Beaunoyer (Val-d'Or)
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C Florian Schenk (Saint John)
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D Jonathan Prud'homme (Chicoutimi)
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G Kian Hodgins (Gatineau)
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D Louis-Alex Tremblay (Sherbrooke)
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G Louis-Antoine Denault (Quebec)
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D Maddox Labre (Victoriaville)
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C Mateo Nobort (Blainville-Boisbriand)
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LW Nathan Brisson (Val-d'Or)
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C Nathan Lecompte (Chicoutimi)
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D Noah Laberge (Acadie-Bathurst)
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LW Olivier Lemieux (Blainville-Boisbriand)
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