As the saying goes, the best way to be remembered is to leave a great first impression.
These following five players will have the chance to do so, as they are poised for strong rookie seasons.
Players eligible for consideration must still retain rookie status according to the QMJHL website.
Additionally, I'm not going to consider any players who will be above 18 to start the season -- as to prevent NHL-affiliated imports from clogging the list.
C Maddox Dagenais (Quebec)
How could we not put the first overall pick of the QMJHL draft on this list?
Especially considering that he torched Ontario under-16 level by scoring 81 points (42+39) across just 39 games with the Quinte Red Devils.
Dagenais not only has the talent to break into the league, but also the opportunity.
It's clear that the Remparts know that their championship window isn't close, and are willing to build a team around Dagenais.
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D Benjamin Cossette-Ayotte (Val-d'Or)
Speaking of the 2024 QMJHL Draft, Benjamin Cossette-Ayotte is another player worth watching.
The six-foot right shot defenseman tallied 31 points over 35 games at the Quebec Under-18 AAA level with the Trois-Rivieres Estacades.
Much like Dagenais, there will be plenty of opportunities with the Foreurs as they are will try to claw their way out of the basement.
G Lucas Beckman (Baie-Comeau)
Beckman has the most amount of QMJHL experience, having played in 9 games to end last season, and was he ever good in them.
The 2025 NHL Draft eligible logged a .937 save percentage and a 6-1-1 record in his stint with Baie-Comeau. That was good enough to get an invite to Team Canada's camp for the Hlinka-Gretzky, where he backed up Jack Ivankovic to a Gold Medal win.
With Charles-Edward Gravel being dealt this pre-season, the net is wide open for Beckman to take the reigns and not look back.
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D Carlos Handel (Halifax)
The first import of the list is 6-foot-1, right shot defeneman Carlos Handel of the Halifax Mooseheads.
Handel made the move from Germany to Sweden last season, in search of tougher competition, where he was able to notch 23 points (6+17) across 27 games at the Under-18 regional level and also even played 9 games at the Under-20 level with Malmo Jr.
Handel brings a plethora of international experience as well, playing for the Germans at the Hlinka-Gretzky twice (3 points in 8 games) and once so far at the Under-18 Worlds (5 points in 5 games).
The 2025 NHL Draft eligible should have an impactful rookie campaign.
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C Florian Schenk (Saint John)
The other import is 17-year old Florian Schenk.
The 6-foot-3 centerman split last season between the Swiss Under-17 league and the Under-20 league. He played in just nine games at the U-17 level, notching 12 points (6+6), and played in 42 games with Bern Jr. of the U-20 league scoring 25 points (8+17).
Schenk represented Switzerland at the Hlinka-Gretzky this summer, posting two points (1+1) over four games.
Honorable mentions:
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