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 NCAA, U Sports or professional hockey.

Despite this, there are still many big fish without a home for next season.

1. Antonin Verreault (C, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies)

Antonin Verreault isn't just a big catch, he's the biggest. The former 2nd overall pick in the 2020 QMJHL draft started his QMJHL career a bit slower than anticipated. Injuries and the pandemic led to stagnated development in Gatineau. However a trade to the Huskies in 2023 provided Verreault with the right spark to become the player once anticipated of him. His 107-point season with the Huskies last year led the entire league and while he couldn't quite match those totals this season, he still potted 85 (37+48) and set a careerr high in goals. Not to mention, Verreault is an absolute gamer -- scoring at above a point per game rate in the playoffs throughout his QMJHL career (49 in 47).

All-in-all, while his 5-foot-8 stature may slight his odds of going pro in North America right out of the gate, he should be a hot commodity for NCAA and European pro squads.

Islanders Forward Simek Signs In Czechia After three seasons in the QMJHL, forward Pavel Simek has decided to return home to Czechia to sign with <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/international">Mountfield HK of the Czech Extraliga</a> for the 2025-26 season.

2. Mathis Rousseau (G, Moncton Wildcats)

It's not often a Team Canada world juniors star is college bound, but Mathis Rousseau just may be inching towards that reality. The 5-foot-11 goaltender's 104 career regular season wins has him tied for 11th all time. His career .911 save percentage has him Top 20 all-time and his career playoff save percentage so far sits at a .914 over 36 games.

Given the Wildcats are still in the playoffs, it's unlikely we'll see Rousseau commit anywhere until afterwards. However, while the college route is now an option, don't be surprise if he ends up in the AHL or ECHL next season.

Voltigeurs Overager Mercer Signs NHL Deal With Minnesota Wild Drummondville Voltigeurs goaltender Riley Mercer has just wrapped up an impressive QMJHL career.

3. William-Charles Bishop (D, Val-d'Or Foreurs)

Every year there's a good few overage players who seem to really break through and become dynamic players and this year one of them was Val-d'Or's William-Charles Bishop. Across three seasons before this year, Bishop tallied 20 points (3+17) over 149 games. This year alone, Bishop amassed 43 points (8+35) over 64 games, playing heavy minutes. Bishop has always been a strong skater with good physicality, but this is the first year where the offense has arrived with it.

Teams looking to bet on some untapped upside should give a look at Bishop as an option who, at worst, can be a minute eating bruiser on the blueline, and, at best, may also drive offense.

Armada's Goriunov Turns Pro, Joins Montreal Canadiens' System Just a few days after Drummondville's goaltender Riley Mercer signed with the <a href="https://thn.com/ahl">AHL</a> affiliate of the <a href="https://thn.com/minnesota">Minnesota Wild</a>, the <a href="https://thn.com/montreal">Montreal Canadiens</a>' system have plucked a player of their own from the QMJHL.

4. Yoan Loshing (C, Shawinigan Cataractes)

Yoan Loshing has a lot of the tools and intangibles team dream of. He's got a proven track record of success via his three straight point-per-game plus seasons, has a good shot but can create offense thanks to a good hockey brain and skating, and is effective in all three zones. Not to mention, his season and a half captaining the Moncton Wildcats.

If not for an inch or two and a few more pounds, Loshing would likely have been called upon by the NHL. Given his increase in height from 5-foot-9 to 5-foot-10 and weight into the 170s, it would not be a shock if he ends up getting a pro offer. However, if not, he'd be a key player out of the gate for whichever college program that lands him.

Islanders Forward Simek Signs In Czechia After three seasons in the QMJHL, forward Pavel Simek has decided to return home to Czechia to sign with <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/international">Mountfield HK of the Czech Extraliga</a> for the 2025-26 season.

5. Hugo Primeau (LW, Sherbrooke Phoenix)

Hugo Primeau is another one of those players who has really cemented himself as a key contributer later in his QMJHL career. After a mediocre first two seasons in the league, scoring 17 points (6+11) over 109 games, the scoring winger exploded for 104 points over the next 129 games. Additionally, across the past two playoffs he's picked up 22 points (6+16) through 20 games.

As it stands, you'd like to think Primeau put up a decent enough body of work to field some NCAA offers.

New Jersey Devils' QMJHL Prospect Forward Melovsky Inks Pro Deal With AHL's Utica Matyas Melovsky's path to the NHL has been a long and winding one.&nbsp;

Other uncommitted and unsigned overagers

• D Francois-James Buteau (Acadie-Bathurst(
• D Anthony Lavoie (Baie-Comeau)
• D Emanuelson Charbonneau (Blainville-Boisbriand)
• D Brayden Schmitt (Cape Breton)
• G Nicolas Ruccia (Charlottetown)
• RW Felix Gagnon (Chicoutimi)
• C Kassim Gaudet (Chicoutimi)
• D Taos Jordan (Gatineau)
• LW Julien Paille (Gatineau)
• C Braeden MacPhee (Halifax)
• C Thomas Auger (Quebec)
• D Pier-Olivier Roy (Rimouski)
• D Hugo Marcil (Sherbrooke)
• LW Charles-Antoine Beauregard (Sherbrooke)

UQTR Patriotes Add Shawinigan's Menard & Three Former QMJHLers USports recruiting season is in full swing, and UQTR Patriotes have landed on some big fish from the QMJHL.

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