You know what they say, the best offence is good defense.
So why have a gander at five of the defenders worth keeping an eye on for the upcoming season
LD Xavier Villeneuve (Blainville-Boisbriand)
Xavier Villeneuve won't even be eligible for the 2025 NHL Entry draft, but his 43-point (8+35), 54 game rookie campaign last year should have teams wishing he was.
RD Alex Huang (Chicoutimi)
Teams can instead focus their attention to Chicoutimi's Alex Huang, who will be available in June. He tallied a 36-point (8+28) rookie season with the Sags last season and is just coming off of winning Hlinka-Gretzky gold with Canada this summer.
LD Marcus Kearsey (Charlottetown)
Unlike Villeneuve and Huang, Kearsey was available in the 2024 NHL Draft but somehow went undrafted after the QMJHL's Humanitarian of the Year notched 49 points (7+42) with the Charlottetown Islanders.
LD Pier-Olivier Roy (Rimouski)
Meanwhile, Pier-Olivier Roy will look to field pro offers as he checks in with Rimouski for his final season after a 50-point (10+40) with the Victoriaville Tigres last season -- a surprising down year after putting up 68 the year prior.
LD Brady Schultz (Halifax)
Overager Brady Schultz is the returning defenseman with the highest point totals, notching 57 (9+48) across 67 with the Mooseheads last year. Just how much higher can that number climb this season?
Honorable mentions:
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