Welcome to your 2025 NHL Entry Draft Headquarters right here at Last Word On Sports and Top Shelf Prospects. We have you covered with everything you will need to be ready for the big event. This year’s draft is set to take place on June 27th and 28th live from the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles California. Today we bring you our Caleb Desnoyers Scouting Report.
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As we continue our series here at Last Word On Hockey, showcasing the best prospects the world has to offer, we land on another elite forward. Meet Caleb Desnoyers, a 6″2, 172lbs center out of the QMJHL. Caleb has been a steady riser in draft rankings this summer due to his hockey sense, poise, and two-way reliability. While he doesn’t always play at breakneck pace or dazzle with highlight-reel skill, Desnoyers’ game is defined by his processing speed, creativity in tight spaces, and a willingness to engage physically. Thus far, scouts seem to be pretty split about where he will be selected this year. Some see the potential have having Desnoyers being drafted as high as third, whereas others are more hesitant and expect him to end up in the teens.
Caleb Desnoyers Scouting Report: 2025 NHL Draft #6
Center – Left Shot
Born April 11, 2007 – St-Hyacinthe, QC, CAN
Height 6’2″ – Weight 172 lbs [188cm-78kg]
Offensive Vision
What makes Desnoyers special and worthy of a top-10 pick is the way he thinks the game. Hockey comes easily to him as he is usually one step ahead of the opposing team. In the offensive zone, he uses smart delays to open up passing lanes and shows creativity with his shot selection, changing angles and release points to keep goaltenders guessing. When a passing lane has been opened, Caleb successfully times his passes and can snap the puck across the ice in stride, making it difficult to defend.
His scoring potential was on full display this season with the Moncton Wildcats. Through 56 games, Desnoyers scored 35 goals and 84 points. Compared to the likes of Micheal Misa, the point totals seem lackluster. However, when you consider that the QMJHL is a low-scoring league and that Desnoyers finished fifth in league scoring, it becomes much more impressive. Even more impressive is that through his team’s four playoff games so far, Caleb has eight points. Despite Desnoyers not having the elite skill set that others in this draft have, his composure under pressure and ability to find soft ice allow him to remain consistently productive.
Caleb Desnoyers might be the best Prospect out of the QMJHL since Nathan MacKinnon. He could be the best Quebec Born Prospect since like Marc-André Fleury… Wow. Definitely not getting nearly enough hype. (https://t.co/2xS1qqqpsw). pic.twitter.com/JgUpEddWpP
— Western Hockey Scout (@Pete___Hughes) February 15, 2025
Two-Way Game
In addition to his offensive production, Desnoyers’s reliability in all areas of the ice makes him highly coveted. He is the prototypical two-way player who can be trusted no matter what situation the team is in. He wins faceoffs, has strong structural details in his own zone, and isn’t afraid to initiate contact. While his game isn’t defined by physicality, he engages in a way that separates body from puck. Caleb is a hound on the forecheck, finishing his checks and holding his ground against bigger opponents. When the game needs to be locked down, Desnoyers can be trusted to use high-level stick details and engagement to shut down the openents attack.
Insane steal and play by Caleb Desnoyers to set up Sumpf for the game winner in OT. Bruins will possibly be in range to draft Desnoyers this summer. pic.twitter.com/aIR0zEEdRQ
— Robert Chalmers (@IvanIvanlvan) March 29, 2025
Skating and Pace
The biggest concern holding Desnoyers back from being an undisputed top-10 pick is his skating. While his straight-line speed is serviceable, he lacks the explosive acceleration to pull away from defenders in transition. This, in turn, puts a strain on his timing, deception, and hockey sense. As mentioned above, in high-intensity games, Caleb can hold his own. However, without any breakaway speed, he can occasionally look static or too deliberate, especially against higher-end defenders who close space quickly. If Desnoyers hopes to eventually make the jump to the NHL, he will need to improve his acceleration.
Projection and Comparisons
Overall, Caleb Desnoyers is a high-end NHL prospect whose strength is the speed at which he processes the game. His blend of size, intelligence, and versatility gives him a solid foundation on which to build. He projects as a reliable, two-way center who can play in the top six. If he can improve his skating and find a new gear of acceleration, the sky’s the limit for Caleb in the NHL.
Two comparables for Desnoyers that he should try to model his game after are Sean Couturier (Philadelphia Flyers) and Mark Stone (Vegas Golden Knights). Caleb might not necessarily be as good as either of these players, but the similarities are definitely there. With Couturier, you have a poised, two-way center with great vision and a reliable 200-foot game. Stone, on the other hand, isn’t known for having the best skating in the NHL, but has relied on his mind to make him successful. Both players show attributes that Desnoyers possesses. If he can become even three-quarters of either of those players, the team that lands him will be very happy.
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