Owen Conrad – McKeen's Hockey

2025 NHL DRAFT: Top ten undrafted players as ranked by McKeen’s Hockey

Brock Otten — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 14:06:16 +0000

The 2025 NHL Draft has come and gone. 97 of our top 100 ranked players were drafted, as were 120 of our top 130.

There were definitely some interesting trends.

For one, no defenders under the height of 6 feet were selected. Conversely, the focus was clearly on adding size and more size to NHL lineups, as many of the draft’s “fallers” were undersized players. This is obviously in response to what the Florida Panthers have done in recent years; teams want to add more size and grit to their organizations.

Another trend was the increased selection of CHL players. 90 CHL players were selected, the most in almost a decade. Over 40% of all players were out of the Canadian Hockey League, and that number probably increases when you factor in the number of players who have officially (and unofficially) signed in the league for next year. This is obviously in response to the new NCAA eligibility rules and the pending changes coming to the CBA regarding the signing window. Teams felt more comfortable using mid to later round picks on players out of the CHL knowing that their signing window will likely increase and, subsequently, so will their development window.

As is usually the case, re-entry players were heavily targeted. Our top eight re-entries (or overagers) were selected and over 30 were taken league wide. Although, the number was a little lower than we’ve seen the last few years. However, it’s important to note that some of those re-entries taken were players previously ranked highly by us at McKeen’s Hockey like Francesco Dell’Elce and Nolan Roed. Odds are that a few of the players listed below will improve enough to earn a selection in the coming years.

Here were our top ten undrafted players:

Post Draft Outlook: Considering that so many other similar defenders were selected, from the QMJHL alone, it was shocking to see Conrad go unselected. NHL teams must have felt that his skating was not quite at the level it needed to be considering his likely low impact on the offensive side of things.

Post Draft Outlook: Obviously was a turbulent year for Morin as he left the USHL earlier in the year to sign in Saint John, then put up somewhat disappointing numbers. Consistency was the biggest issue for him, especially in terms of physical engagement. But he has the package of size and skill that NHL teams are looking for. At some point, it seems likely he puts it all together and becomes a high scoring junior player. Maybe it’s this year in the QMJHL. Maybe it’s in the future with Boston University.

Post Draft Outlook: Radivojevic was a highly divisive prospect for us this year as a staff. Some felt that he was a top two round prospect, while others felt he was a draft long shot deserving of a lower ranking. As mentioned above, it was not a good year to be an undersized defender. At the end of the day, Radivojevic just isn’t dynamic enough offensively at this current moment to be a big time point producer at higher levels. That makes his projection murky. He’ll be at Boston College next year and could easily be next year’s Francesco Dell’Elce if he produces at a good clip and shows that his game can translate.

Post Draft Outlook: It feels like Pobezal has been on the draft radar for several years thanks to some underage appearances for Slovakia internationally on the bigger stages. However, his game has seemed to plateau, and the physical tools just haven’t caught up. The IQ and compete level are great, but what’s the upside? He’ll play in Kingston next year and he could easily be back on the draft radar with a strong performance in the OHL.

Post Draft Outlook: Even though Rheume-Mullen isn’t technically undersized, it was a tough draft for “average” sized defenders too, especially ones with his profile. Like Radivojevic, DRM was a player that was highly debated by our scouting team. Ultimately, a lack of standout trait outside of skating clouded his upside in the eyes of NHL scouts. But he’ll return to Michigan as a sophomore, and he’ll earn more ice time over time. He’ll definitely be on the signing radar in a few years if he’s not drafted next year (in his final year of eligibility).

Post Draft Outlook: Given how well his brother Gracyn progressed over his years in the WHL, we expected Lukas to be selected because there are some similarities in their games. But his size/frame likely did him in this year, especially when coupled with only average production. We wish he had gotten more ice time at the U18’s to show what he’s made of, but that will have to wait. He’ll return to Edmonton next year and look to fill his big brother’s shoes as Gracyn turns pro in the Florida system.

Post Draft Outlook: We were big fans of Cameron coming into the year and we still believe that he’ll evolve into an NHL prospect down the line. But right now? A tough year for a rebuilding Peterborough Petes team was tough on him. He lost his identity and fell into the draft year trap by trying to do too much. He still has an intriguing two-way skill set and he’ll evolve with an improving Petes’ team over the next two years.

Post Draft Outlook: Again, what a tough year to be undersized. Veilleux was among the production leaders for draft eligible CHL players this year. However, his game lacks polish and maturity currently. He needs to get stronger and improve his off-puck play. If he can add some snarl to his game and continue to improve his skating, he’s going to keep producing offensively in the QMJHL and eventually get a sniff.

Post Draft Outlook: Did we mention that being undersized was a kiss of death this year? Carrier was a favourite sleeper of our QMJHL scouting team, but he just didn’t produce enough or get enough ice time to truly stand out. He is a hard worker with a well-rounded skill set, but perhaps a lack of standout trait, coupled with his size, made it difficult for NHL scouts to project him to a future NHL role.

Post Draft Outlook: Another QMJHL stay at home standout with size that we figured was a draft slam dunk. The heavy hitter might have fallen under the radar a bit this year, his first in the QMJHL as an import. Hopefully he returns to Val D’or next season and continues to improve his skating and puck management/puck skill to get himself back on the draft radar.

2025 NHL DRAFT: TOP 100 PLUS HONOURABLE MENTIONS – March edition – FOR SUBSCRIBERS

McKeen's Hockey — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 14:34:18 +0000

Porter Mantone of the Brampton Steelheads. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

It’s time for an update to our 2025 NHL draft rankings. Back in December, prior to the World Junior Championships, we released our top 64. Now, not only are we updating, but we’re expanding to a Top 100 (plus honorable mentions). This will be our final draft ranking prior to the release of our Top 300 (along with our annual draft guide).

Erie Otters defender Matthew Schaefer remains on top, despite not playing since our last release due to a collarbone injury suffered at the World Juniors. However, we have no doubt that Schaefer will return stronger than ever. He has been skating recently and is gearing up for a return for the OHL playoffs. At this point, Schaefer is our clear number one and we don’t expect that to change.

The other players in our top ten are all the same, with some minor shuffling. Michael Misa moves ahead of James Hagens based on his strong production with Saginaw, mixed with Hagen’s drop in production with Boston College post World Juniors. We feel that both players have similar projections as top six pivots, but we feel Misa’s frame gives him a greater opportunity to be a more complete pro. Caleb Desnoyers is the other big riser. While, admittedly, we do have some minimal concerns about his offensive upside, we appreciate his pro style of play and safe floor, in combination with the improvement he has shown offensively over the course of this season. Roger McQueen is the big “faller” inside our top ten due to injury and durability concerns. He has recently returned to action and we’re eager to see how he performs down the stretch.

Among the biggest risers, Bill Zonnon, Cole McKinney, and Jake O’Brien standout. O’Brien is knocking on the door of the top ten, moving from 23 to 13 thanks to his elite playmaking ability and three zone awareness. McKinney elevated his play in the second half to become the top pivot on the US NTDP, giving our scouts a better indication of his offensive upside. Zonnon is an energetic forward with a pro frame who has been a favourite of our Eastern scouts thanks to consistent production.

Among the biggest fallers are Malcolm Spence (from 13 to 23, switching with O’Brien), Luca Romano (24 to 44), Ivan Ryabkin (26 to 39), and Tomas Pobezal (from 39 to 81).

You may have caught our recent, and annual second chances series that outlined the top “re-entries” available for 2025. Kristian Epperson (49), Francesco Dell’Elce (82), Petteri Rimpinen (84), and Sam Laurila (98) cracked our Top 100. Additionally, Jamiro Reber is listed as an honorable mention.

Overall, the picture is becoming more and more clear regarding this draft class. Simply put, the majority of our scouts are not enamored with the depth of this group. “In a normal year, when we put together our March list, the debate for the first round is often charged, with the regional scouts all fighting to have their personal, regional favourites included in the top 32,” said Director of Scouting Brock Otten. “But this year, the debate was more about who actually deserved to be ranked in the first round…there was significantly less table pounding.”

“The way I see it” continues Otten, “there is a clear drop off after about the 20th position. There are unquestionably some solid players available outside this range, but few high upside players. Potential role players are the name of the game this year. As a staff, we’re really hoping some players step up in their respective league playoffs and at the U18’s to help give this draft class a little more excitement.”

You can expect our final draft ranking to be released in late May, coinciding with the release of our annual draft guide.

RANK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB	GP	G	A	PTS
1	Matthew Schaefer	D	Erie (OHL)	6-2/180	5-Sep-07	17	7	15	22
2	Michael Misa	C	Saginaw (OHL)	6-1/185	16-Feb-07	62	59	67	126
3	James Hagens	C	Boston College (NCAA)	5-10/175	3-Nov-06	35	10	25	35
4	Porter Martone	RW	Brampton (OHL)	6-3/205	26-Oct-06	54	32	60	92
5	Jackson Smith	D	Tri-City (WHL)	6-3/195	13-May-07	65	7	41	48
6	Caleb Desnoyers	C	Moncton (QMJHL)	6-2/180	11-Apr-07	56	35	49	84
7	Victor Eklund	LW	Djurgardens (HockeyAllsvenskan)	5-11/160	3-Oct-06	42	19	12	31
8	Anton Frondell	C	Djurgardens (HockeyAllsvenskan)	6-1/195	7-May-07	29	11	14	25
9	Roger McQueen	C	Brandon (WHL)	6-5/195	2-Oct-06	14	9	9	18
10	Lynden Lakovic	LW	Moose Jaw (WHL)	6-4/190	12-Dec-06	45	24	31	55
11	Radim Mrtka	D	Seattle (WHL)	6-6/205	9-Jun-07	41	3	31	34
12	Brady Martin	C	Soo Greyhounds (OHL)	6-0/175	16-Mar-07	55	30	37	67
13	Jake O'Brien	C	Brantford (OHL)	6-2/170	16-Jun-07	64	32	64	96
14	Cullen Potter	C	Arizona State (NCAA)	5-10/170	10-Jan-07	34	13	9	22
15	Justin Carbonneau	RW	Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)	6-1/190	25-Nov-06	61	46	43	89
16	Kashawn Aitcheson	D	Barrie (OHL)	6-1/195	21-Sep-06	63	25	33	58
17	Cameron Reid	D	Kitchener (OHL)	6-0/190	8-Apr-07	66	14	39	53
18	Ben Kindel	C	Calgary (WHL)	5-10/175	19-Apr-07	62	34	64	98
19	Braeden Cootes	C	Seattle (WHL)	5-11/180	9-Feb-07	58	25	36	61
20	Carter Bear	LW	Everett (WHL)	6-0/180	4-Nov-06	56	40	42	82
21	Jack Murtagh	LW	USN U18 (USDP)	6-1/200	22-Aug-07	42	20	24	44
22	Cameron Schmidt	RW	Vancouver (WHL)	5-7/160	19-Jan-07	59	39	37	76
23	Malcolm Spence	LW	Erie (OHL)	6-1/200	22-Sep-06	62	32	38	70
24	Joshua Ravensbergen	G	Prince George (WHL)	6-5/190	27-Nov-06	50	33	12	2.93
25	Jack Nesbitt	C	Windsor (OHL)	6-4/185	12-Jan-07	63	24	39	63
26	Cole McKinney	C	USN U18 (USDP)	6-0/200	16-Mar-07	45	21	29	50
27	Eric Nilson	C	Djurgardens (Swe J20)	5-11/155	11-May-07	37	12	26	38
28	Logan Hensler	D	Wisconsin (NCAA)	6-2/190	14-Oct-06	32	2	10	12
29	Henry Brzustewicz	D	London (OHL)	6-2/200	9-Feb-07	65	10	29	39
30	Blake Fiddler	D	Edmonton (WHL)	6-4/210	9-Jul-07	62	9	22	31
31	Shane Vansaghi	RW	Michigan State (NCAA)	6-2/210	11-Oct-06	35	6	10	16
32	Bill Zonnon	C	Rouyn Noranda (QMJHL)	6-1/185	3-Oct-06	62	28	53	81
33	Jakob Ihs Wozniak	RW	Lulea (Swe J20)	6-2/185	1-Feb-07	40	23	34	57
34	Nathan Behm	RW	Kamloops (WHL)	6-1/190	18-Apr-07	57	31	35	66
35	Adam Benak	C	Youngstown (USHL)	5-7/160	10-Apr-07	53	16	38	54
36	Kurban Limatov	D	MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL)	6-3/195	20-Mar-07	45	8	15	23
37	Carter Amico	D	USN U18 (USDP)	6-5/225	15-Mar-07	13	0	3	3
38	Cole Reschny	C	Victoria (WHL)	5-10/180	6-Apr-07	60	23	63	86
39	Ivan Ryabkin	C	Muskegon (USHL)	6-0/195	25-Apr-07	18	11	8	19
40	Milton Gastrin	C	MoDo Hockey (Swe J20)	6-1/185	2-Jun-07	40	18	24	42
41	Will Moore	C	USN U18 (USDP)	6-2/175	24-Mar-07	49	21	22	43
42	Sascha Boumedienne	D	Boston University (NCAA)	6-1/175	17-Jan-07	35	3	9	12
43	Conrad Fondrk	C	USN U18 (USDP)	6-0/190	1-Jun-07	40	13	14	27
44	Luca Romano	C	Kitchener (OHL)	5-11/175	25-Jun-07	65	25	26	51
45	Alexander Zharovsky	RW	Tolpar Ufa (MHL)	6-1/165	22-Feb-07	45	24	26	50
46	Max Psenicka	D	Portland (WHL)	6-4/175	18-Jan-07	22	1	5	6
47	Jack Ivankovic	G	Brampton (OHL)	5-11/180	22-May-07	41	23	12	3.13
48	Maxim Agafonov	D	Tolpar Ufa (MHL)	6-2/195	10-Apr-07	33	6	7	13
49	Kristian Epperson	LW	Saginaw (OHL)	5-11/180	7-May-06	55	26	51	77
50	Vaclav Nestrasil	RW	Muskegon (USHL)	6-5/185	6-Apr-07	51	14	19	33
51	Jimmy Lombardi	C	Flint (OHL)	6-0/180	16-Feb-07	61	13	28	41
52	Gustav Hillstrom	C	Brynas (Swe J20)	6-1/175	20-Jan-07	43	16	22	38
53	Pyotr Andreyanov	G	Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (MHL)	6-0/205	22-Jan-07	37	23	6	1.75
54	Arvid Drott	RW	Djurgardens (Swe J20)	6-0/180	11-Aug-07	40	18	18	36
55	Matthew Gard	C	Red Deer (WHL)	6-5/190	7-Apr-07	63	18	17	35
56	Ethan Czata	C	Niagara (OHL)	6-1/175	29-May-07	65	20	33	53
57	Hayden Paupanekis	C	Spokane-Kelowna (WHL)	6-4/195	4-Feb-07	68	22	19	41
58	Charlie Trethewey	D	USN U18 (USDP)	6-1/200	2-Aug-07	51	6	12	18
59	Aleksei Medvedev	G	London (OHL)	6-2/180	10-Sep-07	33	22	7	2.72
60	Daniil Prokhorov	RW	MHK Dynamo St. Petersburg (MHL)	6-5/210	27-Apr-07	41	19	7	26
61	William Horcoff	C	Michigan (NCAA)	6-5/190	23-Jan-07	18	4	6	10
62	Tyler Hopkins	C	Kingston (OHL)	6-1/180	23-Jan-07	64	19	31	50
63	Lasse Boelius	D	Assat (Fin-U20)	6-0/180	16-Mar-07	34	4	14	18
64	Eddie Genborg	RW	Linkopings (SHL)	6-1/180	20-Apr-07	28	2	0	2
65	Semyon Frolov	G	MHK Krylia Sovetov (MHL)	6-3/200	17-Jan-07	5	2	2	2.75
66	Ben Kevan	RW	Des Moines (USHL)	6-0/180	3-Jan-07	46	12	29	41
67	Peyton Kettles	D	Swift Current (WHL)	6-5/195	1-Sep-07	51	5	9	14
68	Zeb Lindgren	D	Skelleftea (Swe J20)	6-1/195	14-Apr-07	38	4	15	19
69	Everett Baldwin	D	St. George's School (USHS-RI)	5-11/175	15-Jan-07	22	10	10	20
70	Ryker Lee	RW	Madison (USHL)	5-11/180	8-Nov-06	48	27	33	60
71	Michal Svrcek	LW	Brynas (Swe J20)	5-10/175	26-Jan-07	30	14	16	30
72	Zachary Morin	LW	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-1/185	25-Jan-07	54	16	20	36
73	Jacob Rombach	D	Lincoln (USHL)	6-6/200	1-Apr-07	50	3	15	18
74	Alex Huang	D	Chicoutimi (QMJHL)	6-0/170	30-Jul-07	62	6	33	39
75	Tommy Lafreniere	C	Kamloops (WHL)	5-11/170	16-Jan-07	66	24	32	56
76	Haoxi (Simon) Wang	D	Oshawa (OHL)	6-6/210	27-Jul-07	29	0	2	2
77	William Belle	RW	USN U18 (USDP)	6-3/220	14-Jan-07	50	4	11	15
78	Jan Chovan	RW	Tappara (Fin-U20)	6-3/185	9-Jan-07	39	11	12	23
79	Luka Radivojevic	D	Muskegon (USHL)	5-9/165	3-Jan-07	28	1	16	17
80	Shamar Moses	RW	North Bay (OHL)	6-1/200	6-May-07	58	12	35	47
81	Tomas Pobezal	C	HK Nitra (Svk)	5-10/180	18-Sep-06	42	15	8	23
82	Francesco Dell'Elce	D	Massachusetts (NCAA)	6-0/170	23-Jun-05	38	6	16	22
83	Vojtech Cihar	LW	Karlovy Vary (Czechia)	6-0/175	29-Mar-07	43	4	5	9
84	Petteri Rimpinen	G	Kiekko-Espoo (Fin)	6-0/175	25-Apr-06	40	16	9	2.36
85	Carlos Handel	D	Halifax (QMJHL)	6-0/170	31-Mar-07	50	3	23	26
86	Burke Hood	G	Vancouver (WHL)	6-3/195	30-Apr-07	41	18	13	3.21
87	Melvin Novotny	LW	Leksands (Swe J20)	6-1/185	3-Apr-07	41	12	26	38
88	Sean Barnhill	D	Dubuque (USHL)	6-5/205	8-Jan-07	46	4	4	8
89	Tomas Poletin	LW	Pelicans (Fin-U20)	6-1/200	30-Apr-07	25	13	7	20
90	Roman Bausov	D	MHK Dynamo St. Petersburg (MHL)	6-5/180	28-Apr-07	39	2	9	11
91	Mason Moe	C	Madison (USHL)	6-1/185	26-Mar-07	41	13	24	37
92	Reese Hamilton	D	Calgary-Regina (WHL)	6-0/170	26-Mar-07	59	4	10	14
93	Dakoda Rheaume-Mullen	D	Michigan (NCAA)	6-0/180	18-Dec-06	35	3	6	9
94	Nathan Quinn	C	Quebec (QMJHL)	5-11/170	29-Aug-07	52	17	29	46
95	Samuel Meloche	G	Rouyn Noranda (QMJHL)	6-2/190	22-Jul-07	49	29	13	2.96
96	Maceo Phillips	D	USN U18 (USDP)	6-6/225	25-Feb-07	47	2	4	6
97	Eduard Bondar	D	Val d'Or (QMJHL)	6-5/195	31-Jan-07	52	3	9	12
98	Sam Laurila	D	Fargo (USHL)	6-1/185	2-Sep-06	50	7	28	35
99	Owen Conrad	D	Charlottetown (QMJHL)	6-2/210	10-Mar-07	62	7	19	26
100	Malte Vass	D	Farjestads (Swe J20)	6-2/185	28-Mar-07	40	2	9	11
HM	Karl Annborn	D	HV 71 (Swe J20)	6-1/185	6-Mar-07	39	3	21	24
HM	Lucas Beckman	G	Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)	6-1/180	23-Aug-07	51	30	18	2.68
HM	Carson Cameron	D	Peterborough (OHL)	6-1/190	27-Jun-07	60	7	16	23
HM	Hayden Harsanyi	C	Medicine Hat-Saskatoon (WHL)	5-10/175	10-Jan-07	34	11	12	23
HM	Dmitri Isayev	LW	Avto Yekaterinburg (MHL)	5-9/150	26-Jun-07	43	22	23	45
HM	Atte Joki	C	Lukko (Fin-U20)	6-1/190	21-Jul-07	40	15	17	32
HM	Viktor Klingsell	RW	Skelleftea (Swe J20)	5-10/185	10-Feb-07	43	17	22	39
HM	Nathan Lecompte	C	Chicoutimi (QMJHL)	5-10/165	19-Jan-07	56	14	35	49
HM	Jeremy Loranger	C	Sherwood Park (BCHL)	5-9/160	15-Jun-07	50	37	57	94
HM	Jamiro Reber	C	HV 71 (SHL)	5-10/170	4-Sep-06	47	8	7	15
HM	Grayden Robertson-Palmer	C	Phillips Academy (USHS-MA)	5-11/195	29-Aug-07	30	16	23	39
HM	David Rozsival	RW	Bili Tygri Liberec (Czechia U20)	6-0/185	1-Jun-07	30	17	20	37
HM	Lukas Sawchyn	LW	Edmonton (WHL)	5-10/175	27-Feb-07	64	15	38	53
HM	Theo Stockselius	C	Djurgardens (Swe J20)	6-2/180	24-Jul-07	40	22	29	51
HM	Mason West	RW	Edina (USHS-MN)	6-5/205	3-Aug-07	31	27	22	49
HM	Max Westergard	RW	Frolunda (Swe J20)	5-11/160	3-Sep-07	41	19	31	50

2025 NHL DRAFT: Early Season Favourites – QMJHL – Carbonneau, Morin, Huang & Conrad

Jérémy Tremblay — Sat, 30 Nov 2024 14:00:45 +0000

Time for another series at McKeen’s from our scouting staff. The 2025 NHL Draft season is well under way and our scouts have been busy soaking in the action around the globe. Analyzing early season play can be difficult; perhaps even a bit of a ruse. Hot starts aren’t always sustainable and cold starts are not always indicative. However, players can still catch our attention in positive ways and that’s what this series intends to highlight.

Jérémy Tremblay - Regional Quebec Scout

Justin Carbonneau – Right Wing – Blainville-Boisbriand

6'1, 192lbs - 2006-11-25

Unknown to many at the start of the season, Carbonneau is climbing higher and higher in the rankings as the season goes on, competing for the top spot with Caleb Desnoyers for the best QMJHL prospect. He might be the most eye-catching prospect in the QMJHL with all the skills and energy he brings to the game, but many aspects of his game are well-projectable to the NHL too. He does have a little uncertainty in his game, but the potential here is very high.

Simply put, Charbonneau has a vast and crafty skill set offensively. He is one of the best in the entire draft in one-on-one situations. He has this level of creativity, where he can create plays from absolutely nowhere and get a solid scoring chance. He likes to create from the rush, using his explosiveness and puck control to generate chaos offensively. Sometimes, even his teammates struggle to follow the speed he is thinking the game. However, he tends to overcomplicate plays, making difficult passes instead of slowing down the pace and finding a better option. He could use this change of speed to create space and use his dangerous wrist shot more often. Carbonneau is shooting a lot in a game, averaging nearly nine shots attempted per game, but he struggles to find the back of the net as often as he can.

But Carbonneau’s game is not only about the offensive. He works very hard on the forecheck, creating many turnovers. He will go into the corner and fight relentlessly to win the puck. It always surprises me the amount of energy Carbonneau has. He will backcheck even if it’s not necessary and will use his body to separate the puck from his adversary and gain possession of the puck. The hard work pays off offensively, and he also works pretty hard defensively. He is not afraid to jump in front of a shot, battles hard to win the puck, and he consistently keeps his feet moving.

If there is a thing to understand about Carbonneau, it is that he is improving really fast. Already this season, he is cheating less and less offensively. He tries to slow down the pace more. He is smart and understands that he has to polish certain aspects of his game where things are messy. There is still a lot of room for improvement, and that shows that he is not even the player he will become. If you have not seen him play yet, these clips will give you an idea of how terrific Carbonneau is.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/CarbonneauCrazyShift1-1.mp4

If there is a shift that can show it all… here it is! Best shift I have seen from the Armada, and Carbonneau was a big reason why it was this good. Mobility, shooting, quick hands, smart plays, what else do we need?

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/CarbonneauPuckControlAndPlaymaking1.mp4

Carbonneau’s quick changes of direction are so fun to watch. He sees a path where there is not much space and executes. What makes this pass even greater is the sneaky move of faking the shot just to freeze the defender before passing, all of this while skating toward the net.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/CarbonneauDragShot1.mp4

Carbonneau possesses a strong shot with great mechanics. His drag shot is fun to watch, as he can change the direction of his shot so quickly.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/CarbonneauInterceptAndScore1.mp4

We can’t really see how Carbonneau intercepts the puck here, but once he has it, his feet are already moving, creating a two-on-one. Great goal here by Carbonneau.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/CarbonneauNiceGoal1-1.mp4

This clip was the highlight of the first week of the season. Carbonneau was unstoppable in this game, and he finished it in style with a great goal. Carbonneau is so good at finding open space on the ice, and often, it pays off!

Zachary Morin – Left Wing – Saint John

6'1, 181lbs - 2007-01-25

When he was drafted into the QMJHL in 2023, in Morin’s mind, there were no doubts that he would stay in the USA to continue his development in the USHL. After playing a full season with the Youngstown Phantoms in 2023-2024, no one thought he would come back to Quebec to play hockey. But after only four games this season, where he was given less and less ice time, he decided that that was enough and as a surprise to many, he was now a member of the Saint John Sea Dogs.

Some may have thought that he was not good enough in the USHL, but after a few games of seeing what Morin is capable of, there is no doubt he is a top prospect in the QMJHL. Morin’s main flaw last year was the combativeness and intensity he was bringing to the game. There is still work to be done in the matter, but he is showing more diligence in the forecheck and more desire to take back the puck. However, it is when he has the puck on his stick that you start seeing the real Morin. His mind is quick, processing the play as fast as it happens, and that shows in his passing ability. The playmaking in his game is the mainstay of his offensive skill set, sometimes unbeknownst to his scoring ability. It is not that Morin has a bad shot, but he seems to lack confidence in it, as he prefers passing instead of shooting.

Morin is not the most active player defensively. He lacks intensity and tends to drag his feet. Despite that, Morin is given penalty kill minutes and that could help him develop his defensive sense. Already after a few games, he looks better defensively, keeping a good positioning and his stick active. As the season progresses, his coach is giving him more responsibilities and ice time. It seems the decision to come to the QMJHL was the right one for him. It will be interesting to see what he will look like at the end of the season with what he has shown so far.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/MorinPlaymaking1.mp4

Morin is a playmaker. He has a nice creativity in his passing as shown in this clip. It is not everyone that can pull passing plays like this.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/MorinNoShotPlaymakingOnly1.mp4

And sometimes, he forgets that he can shoot. It was not a bad play to pass here, but the shooting lane was very good and the defender was trying his best to block the potential pass.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/MorinSkating1.mp4

Morin’s effort on the forecheck is way better than before. Here, there is no way he gets the puck, but he decided to skate hard to put pressure on the defenders. That is the type of play that we are looking for.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/MorinBadCompete2.mp4

On the other hand, when the play becomes more physical, Morin struggles to put in the necessary effort to win the battle. In this clip, once he is pinned to the board, he just stops playing instead of pushing away his opponent and fighting for the puck. This part of his game must improve if he wants to play professionally.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/MorinGreatMoveAndSC1.mp4

This last clip for Morin, with this nice move on the defender creates a dangerous scoring chance. Morin has quick hands, and he can pull off a move like that!

Alex Huang – Defense – Chicoutimi

6'0, 161lbs - 2007-07-30

Even before the 2024-2025 season started, Huang was already one of the favourites for the QMJHL for this year’s draft. The expectations for Huang’s season may have been a little too high, thinking he would score plenty of points, but the quality of his game goes beyond the point total. I would not be surprised if Huang gets drafted first among all the defenders of the QMJHL, with the high-level abilities that he has shown that are well translatable for pro hockey.

To state the obvious, Huang has an amazing skating ability. His four-way mobility is at another level; he has great edge control and can fly with the puck out of nowhere. He shows it in abundance on the breakout, carrying the puck with composure even with great pressure on him. In the offensive zone, he can walk the blue line so easily, head-faking opponents like it’s a common thing for him. However, we would like to see him create more dangerous scoring chances with those moves. He tends to do these moves just to throw the puck on the boards after. Where things get a little more complicated for Huang is on the defensive side of the game. He has difficulties holding the stick of his opponent, he isn’t active with his stick to poke-check or intercept passes and he is not the most physical player.

Huang is a very smart defender, and it shows in his passing. He is quick and effective with the puck. He knows what to do and where his teammates are. He should be able to create more offensively. Away from the puck, he knows how to sneak past the defender and be open in the slot, but nothing happens most of the time. Maybe it is a little bit of bad luck for him, but his points total doesn’t display how great he is playing. As one of the youngest prospects for this year’s draft, Huang has plenty of room to improve all his abilities and hopefully, get more points by the end of the season.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/HuangMobilityAndTransition.mp4

A little example of how his four-way mobility can be effective when he uses it for the right purpose. On the powerplay, he has plenty of space to move and as shown here, he can be deceptive and find an opening in the defensive barrier.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/HuangDirectionChangeAndShoot1.mp4

Another clip where Huang uses his deceptiveness to freeze the defender and get a good shot to the net.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/HuangGoalFromPoint1.mp4

Huang’s shot is decent enough, he is great at placing himself in the right place and should use it more often. He can find a small spot between the fight in front of the net to place the puck behind the goaltender.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/HuangEvadeDefByPassing1.mp4

I really like this clip. Huang read the complete play perfectly, knowing that he would be able to evade pressure with the pass to his teammates and get alone in the slot. Sadly for him, his teammate did not see him at all.

Owen Conrad – Defense – Charlottetown

6'2, 214lbs - 2007-03-10

It is not always the most impressive defender that gets a job in the NHL. Sometimes the one who keeps the play simple and safe, who can make effective plays, and who has the physique to play hard is what a team is looking for. Conrad could become this exact defender if his development goes as expected, as he is already showing plenty of mature decision-making in his game.

It might not look like it at first glance, but Conrad is a big defender of 6’2” and well over 200 pounds. For a defender like this, he can really activate his feet and has surprising agility. He can turn on a dime and change direction quickly. Conrad is a reliable defender in his own zone, he can pin the puck carrier to the board easily and can use his range to poke-check the puck or intercept a pass. And once he intercepts the puck, watch out for a breakout because he is really effective. He is a great puck carrier and he can bring the puck from one end to the other. Conrad doesn’t possess the best mobility, but he relies more on his hockey sense than his skills. The smart defender likes to support the attack, and you can see in his game that he is trying hard offensively. The problem is that he struggles to generate offense by himself. He takes plenty of shots from the blue line, but it often lacks power and gets blocked on the way to the net.

Conrad could certainly play in the NHL in his career, with how he can shut down plays defensively and because of the physical side of the game he brings. If his offensive skill continues to improve, he will become an even more interesting prospect for the draft. He does show flashes offensively, and even with limited skills, he could be a safe bet at the NHL draft if you want a player who will play in a simple but effective way each night.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ConradBrMove1.mp4

For a 6’2” defender, he can really move on the breakout. He doesn’t use his hands often, but he can surprise more than one player with them.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ConradPPShot1.mp4

Here is an example of Conrad’s skills. He fakes passing on his right, getting his adversary out of position to create his own shooting lane.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ConradPlaymaking1.mp4

Conrad can also pass the puck pretty well, but the passing lane has to be there. That was also a great effort along the board.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ConradBadPinching.mp4

This is a bad habit that Conrad has. He miscalculated his pinching, missing the puck and allowing a two-on-one. Those plays were happening often last season, but so far this year, it seems to happen less, so there is improvement!

2025 NHL DRAFT: Summer of 25′ – Introducing the QMJHL

Jeremy Tremblay — Sat, 10 Aug 2024 13:05:11 +0000

Caleb Desnoyers

Last season was a disappointing year for the QMJHL, leaving us wanting more. Not a single player was selected in the Top 50 in 2024. However, we didn’t have to wait long for a turnaround, because this group is the best from the region in a long time. There could be as many as four first rounders, not something we see often from the QMJHL. This season promises to be exciting!

#1 Caleb Desnoyers – Center – Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)

Caleb Desnoyers is the most anticipated prospect from the QMJHL for the 2025 NHL draft. His first steps in the QMJHL have not gone unnoticed as he maintained a production of almost a point per game last season, putting him in most of the early top 15’s. Of course, the production is a shiny thing to look at, but the detail in his game is much more impressive.

The first feature in his game that catches the eyes is how his game is already mature. Whether in the offensive or defensive zone, more often than not, he places himself at the right place, waiting for a pass or defending the coming offensive attack. For a center, the ability to understand the game that well is a must. Desnoyers is definitely a highly intelligent player, understanding the game at a level already higher than the QMJHL. He takes advantage of the slightest error from the opponent to crash to the net or make a smart pass to an open teammate. His reaction time is quick, making him remarkably effective with the puck.

Using his quick thinking, Desnoyers can clearly be tagged as a dual threat. He has a powerful wrist shot that he likes to use with speed going towards the net. His shot lacks a little precision, but it is not something to stress about. But what has stood out for me in the offensive zone is his playmaking. He sees so well where his teammates are and when to make a pass. What helps him create so much offence is his skating ability. He is not the fastest skater, but a very agile skater with a lot of control of his direction.

However, Desnoyers offensive game comes with a lot of inconsistency. He uses his abilities well, but he is most dangerous on the counter attack. Can he take over shifts by creating when not given a pace or numbers advantage?. His physical play is also a little inconsistent, as he lacks strength currently. Improving that could easily solidify his position in the rankings. Desnoyers may look like a complete player, but there are always many things for him to improve. He has shown last season what tools he brings to the game, and I personally hope to see a big step forward in his productivity coming into the next season.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/1-zDesnoyersDY-1Overtimeplays-1.mp4

Desnoyers (#18) is a dangerous player at 3 on 3. We can already see how well he understands the open space on the ice. In the first half of the clip, Desnoyers makes the defender stop moving his feet, then goes around him and rushes to the net. After that, in the second half, we see his playmaking. At step ahead of the play, he executes a perfect pass in front of the net and they score.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2-zDesnoyersDY-1Goal1.mp4

He possesses a great release. Just look how he turns his body towards the net to be able to shoot anywhere he wants in the net.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/3-zDesnoyersDY-1Breakawaychance.mp4

Desnoyers makes plays like this often. He hides in the back of the play, then suddenly jumps in the play, grabs the puck and flies to the net. His reading here gets him on the breakaway, giving him a great scoring chance.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/4-zDesnoyersDY-1Transition.mp4

Desnoyers is not the player that plays with the highest pace of play. He prefers to wait in the weeds for an opportunity. Even in transition, he doesn’t try to enter the offensive zone with great speed, which sometimes gives him difficulties in trying to keep possession once in the zone.

#2 Justin Carbonneau – Winger - Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)

I cannot hide how much impressed I was with the improvement of Justin Carbonneau as the past season went on. First time watching him, he didn’t do much other than score a nice goal in the shootout. I kept his name somewhere just in case. Well, a few months later, he already stood out from other players, just controlling the game as he wanted. He may be less well known than big names like Desnoyers, Guité and Huang, but it is only a question of time before he is considered in the same tier as those other QMJHL players.

Carbonneau is always trying to create something in the offensive zone whenever he gets the puck. He plays with a fast pace, often controlling the game with his mobility. He likes to move with the puck from the periphery of the offensive zone before finding a breach in the defence and cutting in the middle. He has a decent shot that can surprise goaltenders from every angle, but it could use a little more power. He is also a crafty playmaker, trying to open lanes with his speed and mobility or by beating defenders one on one with skill. Furthermore, his amazing skills really give him the wow factor when he controls the puck on the ice.

With all that, there is still a big part of his game that Carbonneau needs to refine if he wants to get better. I would like to see him work in the defensive zone as hard as he works to get the puck in the offensive zone. Defensively, he tried too often to cheat and that puts him out of position. He could also try to play more in high traffic areas without the puck and not just on the periphery. He has so many tools that could translate well into the NHL, but his mind isn’t there just yet. In the end, Carbonneau could just become a more dangerous player on the ice if he could improve those bad habits.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/1-zCarbonneauDY-1SplitTheD1.mp4

I was there live when he (Carbonneau, #8) did this play, and it was mighty impressive. This really shows off his skill level with the puck. So close to scoring, but we can see a lot of his abilities here and the “wow factor”.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2-zCarbonneauDY-1ImpressiveSC1.mp4

This is not the type of play I see often. From the corner to the front of the net with a little jump, it was very close to being a goal. He’s got the skills and the creativity and that could go far.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/3-zCarbonneauDY-1OffensivePlay1.mp4

He is such an imposing presence when he has the puck. In this clip, he goes coast to coast passing through every player on the way. And after all that, he passes the puck perfectly in front, but his teammate wasn’t able to finish the play.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/4-zCarbonneauDY-1Skills1.mp4

Carbonneau has incredible hands. It looks easy for him passing the puck through players. But many times, he tries too much instead of passing the puck to a teammate or making a simpler play. This is working well in the QMJHL, but at the next level, he’ll need to refine his decision making.

#3 Emile Guité – Winger - Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL)

Emile Guité was rewarded by the QMJHL for his impressive season last year, winning the award of the best rookie of the year, and it was well deserved. Drafted just behind Caleb Desnoyers, the first overall pick in 2023, Guité has shown why he was drafted so high. He possesses NHL qualities that make him a potential first-round pick for the 2025 NHL draft.

He processes the game at a very high speed, moving the puck quickly in a tactical place to keep the pace of the play. His understanding of the game really helps his teammates to play on another level, making them better every time he is with them on the ice. When Guité is in the offensive zone, he likes to shoot the puck from the slot as often as possible and he knows how to get in this area by himself. The majority of his shots were taken there and it shows how he really is an intelligent shooter. He has no difficulties finding a shooting lane that has the most chance to generate something. Furthermore, Guité has a powerful one-timer that he uses often on the power play. Don’t leave him alone in front of your goalie, because he will not miss this chance to score with his smooth hands. His playmaking follows the level of his other skills, as he brilliantly uses the open space to make a dangerous pass in the slot. His head is always up, and he doesn’t hesitate to make quick passes in the offensive zone that generate scoring chances.

Guité is one of the youngest players from the QMJHL for this draft. And clearly, we can see that he is still raw, but with all that he brings, his development curve could just explode next season. However, being on the younger side of the draft also has its disadvantages. Guité is currently underweight, and even for his size, 6’1, he has difficulties playing physically along the boards. Once he gets stronger, I can’t wait to see what type of player he could become. Another thing that could be beneficial for him to work on is the intensity with which he plays. His feet are not always moving, as he prefers to slide into the play. That could help him improve his compete level and better use his high IQ on the ice.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/1-zGuiteDY-1BreakawayGoal.mp4

Guité (#86 white) has smooth hands as shown here. What a goal on a breakaway!

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2-zGuiteDY-1Shift1.mp4

Here is a strong shift by Guité. He starts his shift with a nice blocked pass, proceeds with a breakout play and then, in the offensive zone, he places himself at the right place and makes a perfect shot to score.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/3-zGuiteDY-1PassingPlayPP.mp4

Guité’s playmaking is excellent. You can see him scan the position of his teammate several times before receiving the puck. He already had in mind the next play he was going to make.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/4-zGuiteDY-1PhysicalPlay2.mp4

As a young player that is not totally used to his 6’1 body, Guité has difficulties winning battles along the boards. He is still not heavy enough, but that will come sooner than later.

#4 Alex Huang – Defender - Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL)

Here is another player from the Chicoutimi Saguenéens who is a name to remember for the next draft. Quite possibly the best defender of this QMJHL group, Huang is exactly what you are looking for in a top 4 defenceman nowadays. His confidence grew a lot in the second half of the season, and he could realistically be the number 1 defender on his team this season. With more ice time, what type of player will he be?

Huang is already a two-way defender, helping the attack a large amount of time on the rush. He has a great vision and sees openings on the play to generate offence. On the power play, he is the quarterback of his team, moving the puck with his excellent four-way mobility. He has great edge work, manipulating his opponent on the direction he will take. Despite his skating ability and hockey sense, I find that Huang brings most of it only on the power play. It could really help his draft stock if he could improve his offensive confidence and create more plays at even strength. He maintains composure under pressure and has good enough hands to push further his offensive contributions. The talent is clearly there.

Defensively, Huang is more of a project but the tools are there. He has a good reach with his stick and he is not afraid to use his body to push opponents. He puts himself in front of shots without fear and he is positioned well enough to block passes. Many times, he is caught watching the puck instead of keeping his position, unbalancing the defensive structure. His offensive eagerness sometimes takes over, putting in trouble the defence when he misses a breakout play.

There are plenty of qualities that make Huang a player to watch for the upcoming season. He will not even be 18 when he gets drafted, so he has a lot of time in front of him to improve many facets in his game.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/1-zHuangDY-1Mobility1.mp4

Huang (#12) is an agile and mobile skater. His four-way mobility can help him evade an adversary in many ways.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2-zHuangDY-1NiceGoal1.mp4

He is not the defender that is afraid to get involved in the offence. He tries as much as he can to help the offence, like here, as he sees that his pinch could get him the puck. Then, with the puck, he shows us his mobility and puck control to score a nice goal.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/3-zHuangDY-1BadPassingPlay1.mp4

Huang likes to be involved in the offensive rush, but sometimes, his decision-making with the puck can be questioned. Here, as he supports the attack and gets deeper in the offensive zone, he tries a weak shot to the net that nearly creates an odd-man rush. These types of play at a higher level could be unforgivable.

#5 Bill Zonnon – Winger - Rouyn-Norando Huskies (QMJHL)

Zonnon will already start his third season in the QMJHL this season. He is one of the oldest players in the draft, while being born less than a month away from being available for the 2024 NHL draft. He will have to produce a lot more to convince scouts that despite his age and experience in the QMJHL, he can bring a lot to the game.

Zonnon is definitely not a player that is difficult to find on the ice. The 6’2” and 179 lbs forward is always working hard, charging like a train for the opponent who has the puck. What amazes me the most is how hard he backchecks. I have honestly never seen a player back check as often and with as much intensity. He generates a lot of speed on his skates with his will to get the puck, his explosiveness being impressive at times. He plays heavily along the boards, showing his astonishing level of compete. However, he must be careful not to get penalties as he is sometimes too intense.

With all this intensity, he still is a smart player. He plays a great two-way game, more often well placed than not. He does not hesitate to take the place of the defender if he attacks with the puck, as I have seen him doing a lot. Zonnon’s tools are still raw, needing some refining. It is rare that we can see his one-on-one skills to beat a defender, but when he does, we comprehend that he uses his hands only in times of need. He mostly uses them in a tight area to evade pressure.

With all this, the thing that kept him from being higher in this ranking is the way he generates offense. Finishing at near one point per game last year, it is not the production that is the problem, but more the way he produces. Playing with the likes of Antonin Verreault, who has finished first in points in the QMJHL, has its benefits, but it also boosts your stats. He does make smart passes in the offensive zone, keeping the play active. He has a decent shot but could definitely use it more. Generating offensive chances by himself was something difficult last season, hopefully he will take a step forward and produce a lot more. That would certainly help his ranking before the draft day. Currently, scouts may question his offensive upside as a pro.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/1-zZonnonDY-1TwoWayPlayAndPlaymaking.mp4

This shift shows the two-way game of Zonnon. First, he backchecks hard to stop the odd-man rush. Then, once his team has recovered the puck, he helps on the offensive rush, finishing this clip with a fancy no-look pass.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2-zZonnonDY-1NiceGoal1.mp4

When Zonnon has time to make plays like that, it shows what his offensive potential could be. He is not the craftiest offensive player, but a very effective one.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/3-zZonnonDY-1SmallSkills1.mp4

Even if Zonnon has skills, they look limited. He uses moves like one in this clip to get out of the danger, but never to go towards the net. His hands aren’t quick enough to pass around junior opponents right now and that could limit his offensive projection.

#6 Owen Conrad – Defender - Charlottetown Islanders (QMJHL)

Here is a big defenceman that could make his way up into the ranking of many teams as the season goes on. As teams tend to draft more and more big players that can hit, play fast with the puck and be responsible in their own zone, Conrad’s game may be just what they are looking for.

Looking already strong from his 6’2 209 lbs at only seventeen, he is primarily a shutdown defender. He can body check, hold his adversary on the board behind the net and push players in front of the net. He still has to learn how to use his body effectively in defence. He tends to finish his hit when the player already loses possession. These decisions to recover the puck aren’t always the right one as they put him out of position. Similarly, Conrad has some adjustments to make with his pinching down the wall. Trying to cause a turnover, he pinches too far, creating an odd man rush the other way because of his poor timing with his pinching. Nonetheless, these abilities are on their way to becoming an important asset of his game and could be interesting to see his improvement there this season.

Conrad is a generally intelligent defender that uses his vision well to make breakouts. He regularly makes a good first pass to exit his own zone. He is not currently the defender that will carry the puck to the offensive zone, due to his limited skating speed. He has decent mobility and uses most of it on the power play. What about his offensive? There are moments that show some confident plays, controlling the puck well at the blue line and trying to get the puck to the net. But there is a lot of work here for Conrad, like creating more plays with his passing and jumping more into the attack, which I think he has the potential to do.

If everything goes well for Conrad, we might have a two-way defender that helps produce points but also has a solid defensive game. There is a lot he needs to work on to get there, but the project could be appealing for some teams on draft day.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/1-zConradDY-1DefensivePlay1.mp4

Conrad (#10) plays hard in the defensive zone. He can pin a player along the board with his strength, use his rangy poke check and also battle in front of the net. This clip shows these abilities well.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2-zConradDY-1OffensivePokeCheckMiss1.mp4

I have seen Conrad do many plays like this one, and it’s rarely a success. His pinching is poorly calculated, creating an odd-man rush the other way.

#7 Philippe Veilleux – Winger – Val-d’Or Foreurs (QMJHL)

Last season was a season to forget for the Foreurs as they finished dead last with only 15 wins in 68 games. While being one of the two teams that didn’t make the playoffs, The Val-d’Or Foreurs had at least one thing to look forward to; the future for them could become interesting, with Philippe Veilleux leading the group as the past season was better than expected for him and a few others.

Veilleux is a spectacular player with his quick stickhandling. He can pass between the opposing defence or move the puck quickly around one player before attacking the net and generating a great scoring chance. He constantly sets up plays with his quick passes in the slot, making the defensive structure move as he intends. He plays a low pace game, hiding behind the play to jump into the attack whenever he sees the chance. This has the advantage of surprising the opponent, but also making the play harder for his teammates as he is often far from the play.

This combination of playmaking and stickhandling is always more effective when you have the puck. The main struggle in Veilleux’s game is when he doesn’t have the puck. He plays with low intensity, never really going along the boards to fight for the puck. Plenty of times, he is caught behind the play and takes time to get into his position. His skating definitely doesn’t help him. It lacks power and explosiveness, giving him difficulties to evade players or catch up to the opponent.

With the obvious size problem with Veilleux (currently listed at 5’10), the question remains as to what extent, what he does on the ice could be translatable to the NHL at some point. He is a rare type of player where the skillset is diverse and crafty, but the rest of his game is a big project. With the Foreurs possibly struggling again this season, it will be interesting to see how much Veilleux will be able to show his progression.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/1-zVeilleuxDY-1QuickHandsAndGoal1.mp4

There is an example of what Veilleux (#44) could do even with little space. He has quick hands and his ability to score close to the net is remarkable.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2-zVeilleuxDY-1Decision-Making1.mp4

Veilleux’s vision allows him to make good passes like this one in the offensive zone. He is pretty effective with the puck.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/3-zVeilleuxDY-1PuckWatching1.mp4

Many bad habits from him in this clip. First, we can see his lack of intensity to backcheck, and then, he is caught puck-watching, going towards the puck carrier instead of keeping his coverage. That mistake nearly cost a goal to his team.

#8 Xavier Lebel – Winger - Québec Remparts (QMJHL)

Xavier Lebel is possibly one of the biggest risers for me from the QMJHL last season. Playing with the second-worst team in the league, putting points on the scoresheet was not an easy thing. But in the last 13 games of the season, he managed to get 10 of his 28 points. Thanks to a lot of his tools, Lebel could be an entertaining player to follow this upcoming season.

The skillset of Lebel is still pretty raw, but there are a lot of flashes that show what he could become. He has great hands, can move the puck around players and get into dangerous scoring areas by himself. However, he tends to get stressed and loses control of the puck a little too easily under pressure. He needs to slow down his pace of play to see better potential options. When Lebel plays more calmly, he uses his great speed to go around the defender and cut to the net. He will need to work on his stability on his skates, as he is often pushed on the ground way too easily by the opponent when he tries to crash to the net.

While not the biggest player, only 5’10, Lebel does play aggressively, and he will try to attack the net. This is where he had most of his goals this season. One of the surprising traits in his game is how good his playmaking ability is. He has great vision, and he can make simple passes to move the play, but also makes passes to the slot, generating chances for teammates. Sometimes, he even wants to pass a little too much, forgetting that he could use his shot to score.

As the next season is closing in, Lebel could become a pleasant surprise for the Remparts if he starts producing more points. He was only playing around 15 minutes per game last season and if the team could make him play more, that could easily help his development. And if his composure and physicality also improve? You might have a player that will get drafted sooner than later.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/1-zLebelDY-1GreatVision1.mp4

This clip is an amazing one to show the vision of Lebel (#9). He is the one starting the play with a nice breakout pass. Then, he joins the rush, takes a drop pass and sets up a nice goal.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2-zLebelDY-1SkatingTransition1.mp4

He is a strong skater and can use his speed to pass around a defender and crash to the get.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/3-zLebelDY-1PhysicalPlayAlongBoard1.mp4

Lebel will need to improve his puck protection and stability. He is too easily pushed away from the puck. Here, he lost the puck two times because of his lack of physical strength.

#9 Nathan Lecompte – Center/Winger – Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL)

Yes, Chicoutimi has another player in the top 10 here. Nathan Lecompte has been a productive player wherever he has played. He had more than one point per game in the QM18AAA at the age of 15 and 16 and he continues in the QMJHL to show his offensive prowess.

Nathan Lecompte may not be the biggest player from his 5’9 frame on the ice, but he is a tenacious one. He works very hard along the board and is not afraid to fight in front of the net. He is relentless every shift, moving his feet a lot with intensity and energy. Even better, he is quick on his skates, using his speed to evade players while in the offensive rush or when crashing to the net. He did a lot of the last one in the games I watched. He was waiting for the perfect moment to push towards the net to be a dangerous pass option. Lecompte has a great vision, whether with or without the puck. When he controls the puck, he sees passing lanes and effectively finds open teammates.

While Lecompte played center for most of the games, his future is surely as a winger. Not only because of his size, but also because of his playstyle. He is not the most effective player in his own zone and can be turnover prone. He gets rid of the puck easily whenever someone comes to pressure him. Furthermore, his prime goal this season should be to adapt his game to his 5’9 body, learning how to win battles along the boards and play more calmly at times. Will his game translate well to a higher level of hockey? His offensive vision might, but the AHL or NHL are a lot bigger and more physical. I suppose that if he gets plenty of points this season, there is a big chance he gets drafted.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/1-zLecompteDY-1NiceGoal1.mp4

This clip shows his anticipation in the offensive zone. Lecompte (#42) sees that the play is getting close to the net. He keeps a great position to receive the puck and gets rewarded with a goal.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2-zLecompteDY-1PatienceAndPass1.mp4

A great clip to see his understanding of the game. As he sees a teammate crashing to the net, he understands that the best play for him is to slow down the play and get behind his teammate with the puck. Once he received the puck, his defender was just joining the rush and Lecompte made a perfect pass.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/3-zLecompteDY-1TurnOver1.mp4

Lecompte often looks stressed with the puck close to the boards. Here in the defensive zone, instead of slowing down the play and passing the puck to his defender behind the net, he tries to dump the puck at the center of the ice above 3 opponents. His attempt failed as the puck got intercepted and the other team scored on the play.

#10 Liam Kilfoil – Center - Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)

Liam Kilfoil has officially made Team Canada for the Hlinka Gretzky Cup 2024. Even if he will surely not have the biggest role for this stacked, talented team, it will be interesting to see his impact on the game in the bottom six as Kilfoil didn’t have the most productive season last year with 20 points in 62 games.

He is a decent skater, using his speed in transition most of the time. He has a little power forward in him from time to time where you can see him crash to the net with the puck even if he is not the biggest player. However, given those power forward tendencies, you’d like to see him become more involved along the wall, rather than floating as a passing option.

Most of the goals that I saw from Kilfoil were from the front of the net. He doesn’t have a powerful shot, as he doesn’t seem to have the strength for now to rip the puck. What is helping him offensively is his vision and positioning. Even if he plays a simple game, he is effective with the puck and makes good passes that progress the play.

Kilfoil has a lot of work in front of him if he wants to one day make a bigger impact on the game. His lack of puck control and explosiveness prevent him from creating space for himself to make his plays. If he could improve this part of his game, would it be enough for him to get drafted? We will see how his season will go.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/1-zKilfoilDY-1NiceGoal1.mp4

There are moments in Kilfoil’s (#9) game that can be surprising. Here, he uses his momentum to enter the zone with speed and cut to the net, scoring a nice goal against one of the best teams in the QMJHL.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2-zKilfoilDY-1CompeteGame1.mp4

Even if Kilfoil does not play physically consistently, he is still an intense player. I would like to see him hit here and there sometimes, but he has plenty of energy.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/3-zKilfoilDY-1BadExplosiveness1.mp4

We can see in this clip the lack of explosiveness of Kilfoil. In a straight line against a lanky defenceman, Kilfoil should have won this race, but instead he ended up being hit and losing the puck.

Honorable Mentions:

Louis-Alex Tremblay – Defense - Sherbrooke Phoenix (QMJHL)

Being a small defender is never an easy thing when it comes to projection to the NHL. There are not a lot of 5’9 defenders and those who are there are high-end in a multitude of abilities. Louis-Alex Tremblay possesses many abilities that are good in the QMJHL, but will they be for a higher level of hockey?

First, Tremblay has a powerful shot. He uses it quite often, trying smart angles to generate a rebound in front of the net. His slap shot is also powerful and he displays it generally on the power play. What he could use more is his vision. He sees the ice well, making precise passes, but in the offensive zone, he doesn’t take many chances, preferring to play things safely a lot of the time.

As the offensive side of his game is quite intriguing, the defensive side still has some work to do. He is not the most physical player, and he can try to push players or to poke check, but his range and strength prevent him from being truly effective. If there is one thing he does well in his own zone it is the breakout. With his vision, he thinks fast and often makes the right decision with the puck.

For the next season, Tremblay will surely have more responsibilities, probably also more power-play time. He will have to produce a lot to get the attention of NHL scouts and even as a productive defender, will his size get in his way of getting drafted?

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/1-zTremblayDY-1SlapShotGoal1.mp4

Tremblay (#77) can really shoot the puck. His slap shot is heavy and precise and he can score some nice goals with it!

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2-zTremblayDY-1PhysicalAndPositioning1.mp4

Even if the clip is on the power play, we can see his difficulties to physically stop an opponent.

Mateo Nobert - Center - Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)

Mateo Nobert was drafted third overall in the 2023 QMJHL draft. There is still a lot of expectation towards him as he didn’t fully play to his potential in his first season in the league. There are flashes of a skilled offensive player that can create many scoring chances, but we hope that these moments become more of a regular thing for Nobert.

Born in August, he is still at the beginning of his development curve and at times, it shows in his game. Nobert needs to process the game faster if he wants to succeed at a higher level. He looks like he knows what he wants to do, but he does it just a little bit too slow. When the ideas match the skills he possesses, he will be a more considerable offensive threat. He has great hands, can skate decently fast and he is deceptive in his change of direction.

Physicality is not a part of his game for now as he is easily pushed away from the puck by an adversary. There was some improvement with his puck protection, and we see that his potential could be very interesting once he takes a big step forward in this area. For now, it's hard to say what he could become as we expect him to improve a lot this season.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/1-zNobertDY-1NiceGoal1.mp4

These moments when Nobert takes advantage of the opening in the opposing defence are what we expect to see more in the future. He has a great shot that can beat a goalkeeper just like that.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2-zNobertDY-1DefensivePlay1.mp4

We can see in this clip his difficulties along the boards to win a battle, where the other player only needs to play with his body to keep Nobert away.