According to most experts’ draft rankings, the first QMJHL players may only be selected in second or after
While the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers continue their battle to determine this year’s Stanley Cup champion, the 30 other teams already have their minds set on the 2024 NHL draft. But of those teams, how many are thinking of selecting a QMJHL prospect on the first day?
According to most experts’ draft rankings, not many.
The Hockey News’ Tony Ferrari and Ryan Kennedy don’t have a QMJHL player in the first round in either of their mock drafts. The same applies to TSN’s Bob Mackenzie and Craig Button, Sportsnet’s Sam Cosentino and Jason Bukala or DailyFaceoff’s rankings. Most lists only see their first QMJHL players selected in the second or even third round of the draft.
The top forwards available from the QMJHL include Maxim Massé from the Chicoutimi Sagueneens, as well as Justin Poirier and Raoul Boilard, who finished second and third in scoring respectively for a very strong Baie-Comeau Drakkar club.
The top defensemen available include Spencer Gill from the Rimouski Oceanic and Alexis Bernier, who also plays for Baie-Comeau. Top goalie prospects include the Gatineau Olympiques’ Zach Pelletier and the Sherbrooke Phoenix’s Samuel St-Hilaire.
If no player from the QMJHL is selected in the first round, it would be the case for a second year in a row. In the 2023 NHL draft, Ethan Gauthier (Tampa Bay, 37th overall) had his name called first. Last time this happened was at the 2008 draft, which saw Jake Allen (St. Louis, 34th overall) go first.
Teams could always cause a surprise, however. After all, it's possible the Montreal Canadiens could opt to draft locally with the 26th overall pick they acquired in the Sean Monahan trade with the Winnipeg Jets.
For now, all we can do is speculate. We’ll have our answers on June 28-29, with the 2024 NHL draft taking place at Sphere in Las Vegas.