{ "blocks": [ { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Now that we are almost half-way through the 2024-25 season, what better time to take a gander at which players are the current favourites to win individual awards by season's end." } }, { "type": "header", "data": { "text": "Michel Briere Trophy - MVP", "level": 4 } }, { "type": "image", "data": { "file": { "url": "https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjEwMDYxNDI1MDk4MzY4NDc4/10-17-24-stjvsmonp11.jpg" }, "caption": "Caleb Desnoyers of the Moncton Wildcats" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Favourite: Caleb Desnoyers (Moncton, 2025)" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Perhaps a hot take, but if centerman Caleb Desnoyers can keep up his play and production from this season, he should be a lock for the award. Desnoyers has the fourth highest point-per-game rate in the QMJHL (min. 10 games), has the second highest plus-minus, has a 63.4 faceoff win percentage and is among the league's best defensive forwards. What's more to give for the 2025 NHL draft eligible?" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Honorable mentions: Mathieu Cataford (Rimouski, VGK), Justin Poirier (Baie-Comeau, CAR)" } }, { "type": "header", "data": { "text": "Patrick Roy Trophy - Goalie of the Year", "level": 4 } }, { "type": "image", "data": { "file": { "url": "https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjExMDM3NTgzOTIzMjI2MTAw/20241020_shevsdru_mercer-dru-elie-sha-but-2024-10-20.jpg" }, "caption": "Riley Mercer of the Drummondville Voltigeurs" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Favourite: Riley Mercer (Drummondville, Free Agent)" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "While Josh Fleming's emergence as a top-tier goaltender for the surprise Acadie-Bathurst Titan is a great story, if the season ended now, Mercer would win this handedly. His .942 save percentage is far and away the best in the league. Those who might complain about a light workload should also know that he's had the third most saves in the league, while also having the third lowest time on ice among the Top 10 netminders in save percentage (minimum 10 games)." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Honorable mentions: Joshua Fleming (Acadie-Bathurst, Free Agent), Jacob Steinman (Moncton, FA)" } }, { "type": "header", "data": { "text": "Emile Bouchard Trophy - Defenseman of the Year", "level": 4 } }, { "type": "image", "data": { "file": { "url": "https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjExMDM3ODIwNDE0ODYyODM2/10-18-24-chicvsmonp2_04.jpg" }, "caption": "Etienne Morin of the Moncton Wildcats" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Favourite: Etienne Morin (Moncton, Calgary)" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Now this one is a bit more of a toss-up, however I'd give the lead to Morin. The physical defender is scoring at above a point-per-game rate with the Wildcats, while maintaining a +9, while also helping rein things in defensively." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Honorable mentions: Ty Higgins (Rouyn-Noranda, Free Agent), Spencer Gill (Rimouski, Philadelphia)" } }, { "type": "header", "data": { "text": "Guy Carbonneau Trophy - Best Defensive Forward", "level": 4 } }, { "type": "image", "data": { "file": { "url": "https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjExMDM3NTA2ODgyMjUwMjI4/20241103_halvsmon_macphee_desnoyers-2024-11-03.jpg" }, "caption": "Caleb Desnoyers at the faceoff dot against Braeden MacPhee" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Favourite: Caleb Desnoyers (Moncton, 2025)" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "I've spoken about him already, but as a refresher. Above 60 per cent in the face-off dot this season, intensive commitment to a two-way game and second highest +/- in the league." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": " Honorable mentions: Felix Gagnon (Chicoutimi), Sam Oliver (Drummondville)" } }, { "type": "header", "data": { "text": "Kevin Lowe Trophy — Top Defensive Defenceman", "level": 4 } }, { "type": "image", "data": { "file": { "url": "https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjExMDM4NzM3NjU4ODE2MDQ3/20241006_halvsrim_-17-2024-10-06.jpg" }, "caption": "Spencer Gill of Rimouski (right), battling with Caylen Blake" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Favourite: Spencer Gill (Rimouski)" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "The Philadelphia Flyers second rounder is third for all defenseman in +/- and tied for seventh in the entire league with a +16. All the physically imposing defender has picked up 14 points (1+13) across 22 games with the Océanic." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Honorable mentions: Dylan MacKinnon (Moncton, Nashville), Simon-Pier Brunet (Drummondville, Buffalo)" } }, { "type": "header", "data": { "text": "Michael Bossy Trophy — QMJHL Top Professional Prospect", "level": 4 } }, { "type": "image", "data": { "file": { "url": "https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjExMDM3NDcwNjQzNDYzNjY4/chl-usa-prospects-11-26-24-6777-1.jpg" }, "caption": "Caleb Desnoyers at the CHL/USA Top Prospects Challenge" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Favourite: Caleb Desnoyers (Moncton)" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "No surprise here, given the earlier shouts. At this moment, Desnoyers is the consensus best prospect out of the QMJHL, with a couple of agencies and notable individual scouts ranking him within the Top 10. His placement is reinforced with his play at the CHL/USA Hockey Challenge, winning player of the game for Team CHL in Game 2 with a two point performance." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Nominees: Justin Carbonneau (Blainville-Boisbriand), Bill Zonnon (Rouyn-Noranda)" } }, { "type": "header", "data": { "text": "David Desharnais Trophy — QMJHL Sportsmanlike Player of the Year", "level": 4 } }, { "type": "image", "data": { "file": { "url": "https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjExMDM5MDM5MTExODMzMDc2/2024_10_27_rouvsvdo_9999_27_rousseau_veilleux---dany-germain-2024-10-27.jpg" }, "caption": "Philippe Veilleux of the Val-d'Or Foreurs" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Favourite: Philippe Veilleux (Val-d'Or, 2025)" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "2025 NHL draft prospect Philippe Veilleux would be my frontrunner for the newly renamed sportsman award. Veilleux leads the Foreurs in points with 27 points (12+15) while only registering a single minor penalty thus far." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Nominees: Benjamin Vigneault (Quebec), Preston Lounsbury (Moncton)" } }, { "type": "header", "data": { "text": "Michel Bergeron Trophy — QMJHL Offensive Rookie of the Year", "level": 4 } }, { "type": "image", "data": { "file": { "url": "https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjExMDM5MTEwMjQ3MjI4OTE2/rou_steinerlars_20242025_action_2.jpg" }, "caption": "Lars Steiner of the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Favourite: Lars Steiner (Rouyn-Noranda, 2026)" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Lars Steiner has taken the QMJHL by storm since his selection in the Import Draft. So far, the 17-year old has picked up 33 points (12+21) across just 24 games, good enough for Top 20 in the league in points." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Nominees: Maddox Dagenais (Quebec, 2026), Matvei Gridin (Shawinigan, Calgary)" } }, { "type": "header", "data": { "text": "Raymond Lagace Trophy — QMJHL Defensive Rookie of the Year", "level": 4 } }, { "type": "image", "data": { "file": { "url": "https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjExMDM5MTk3NDg4NzUyMTE2/snb_duhamelolivier_20242025_action_2.jpg" }, "caption": "Olivier Duhamel of the Saint John Sea Dogs" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Favourite: Olivier Duhamel (Saint John, 2026)" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "2026 NHL draft prospect Olivier Duhamel would be the going favourite for the top defensive prospect award. He's picked up nine points (4+5) across 22 games with the Sea Dogs while holding an even +/-. Most notably, Duhamel has had a wicked November as he's tallied six of his points across nine games. If he can keep up some of that momentum well into the season, he could really separate himself from the pack and guarantee the award, as well as NHL interest." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Nominees: Carlos Handel (Halifax, 2025), Maddox Labre (Victoriaville, 2025)" } }, { "type": "header", "data": { "text": "Ron Lapointe Trophy - Head Coach of the Year", "level": 4 } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Favourite: Gordie Dwyer (Acadie-Bathurst)" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "I don't think anyone believed that the Titan were going to be good this year, let alone this good. Despite facing numerous departures, and the non-reports of several import selections, the Titan aren't just swimming -- they are near the top of the race. His Titan are tied for second-lowest goals against in the league with 63 on the season. As such, Dwyer joined Team CHL as an assistant coach at the CHL/USA Prospects Challenge earlier this month." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Honourable Mentions: Gardiner MacDougall (Moncton), Sylvain Favreau (Drummondville)" } }, { "type": "header", "data": { "text": "Maurice Filion Trophy - General Manager of the Year", "level": 4 } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Favourite: Taylor MacDougall (Moncton)" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Despite only coming into the front office of the Wildcats this season, MacDougall Jr. has his finger prints all over this team. On the front end, he has landed big fish in Blues prospect Juraj Pekarcik and also top overager Markus Vidicek. He reinforced the blue line with import pick Loke Johansson (Bruins) and Predators prospect Dylan MacKinnon from the Mooseheads. Just recently, he's also picked up Red Wings goalie prospect Rudy Guimond to back up Jacob Steinman." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": " Honourable Mentions: Danny Dupont (Rimouski), Martin Mondou (Shawinigan)" } }, { "type": "delimiter", "data": {} }, { "type": "header", "data": { "text": "Featured", "level": 4 } }, { "type": "header", "data": { "text": "Other news", "level": 4 } } ] }

Mid-Season Check-In: Who Are The Award Favourites So Far?