Taylor MacDougall, the general manager of the Moncton Wildcats, has considerable experience evaluating hockey talent, and he has high praise for recent standout Caleb Desnoyers. Following an impressive season where Desnoyers took center stage for his team, leading them to a QMJHL championship and being named the playoff MVP with the prestigious Guy Lafleur Trophy, MacDougall shared insights about the young athlete’s exceptional potential.
MacDougall described Desnoyers as a “special kid” and acknowledged the pressures of labeling young prospects. He emphasized his commitment to keeping expectations realistically high, yet he noted that Desnoyers presents a unique opportunity for NHL organizations. “If you’re an NHL organization and you have the opportunity to tie off to this kid for the next 15 years, oh my goodness, I would sleep soundly,” he said, highlighting the significant potential for success in Desnoyers’ future.
The talented forward is currently projected to be a top-five pick in the upcoming 2025 NHL Draft. Desnoyers was not only the first overall selection in the 2023 QMJHL Entry Draft but also earned the title of rookie of the year at just 16 years old. His stellar performance throughout the season included scoring 35 goals and accumulating 84 points in 56 games, ranking fifth in league scoring and second in points per game. His achievements continued with an impressive playoff season, where he added 32 points in 23 games, bringing his total to 45 goals and 116 points across a combined 79 games when factoring in the Memorial Cup.
This exciting trajectory of young talent like Desnoyers presents a hopeful outlook for the future of hockey in not only the QMJHL but also at the NHL level, where team strategies may increasingly focus on fostering such promising athletes. His potential, coupled with the strong foundation laid by his recent accomplishments, suggests that fans and teams alike have much to look forward to in his career.