Top 10 NHL prospects thriving in the QMHL in 2024-25

Steven Ellis
Steven Ellis(sellishockey)
Top 10 NHL prospects thriving in the QMHL in 2024-25
Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

A total of 92 drafted prospects have skated in at least one OHL game this season. Some have ultimately not had their rights retained, but that’s still nearly 100 who spent one summer evening having their dreams come true.

In the WHL, that number is 67 – again, a few are no longer NHL prospects, but most have kept their connection alive.

The QMJHL? Just 29. In recent years, the Q just hasn’t been able to produce the same level of talent that the other two major junior leagues have. Yet, two of the best players in the NHL – Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon – are league alumni (not to mention fellow 4 Nations Face-Off gold medalists Brad Marchand and Samuel Montembeault). But on draft weekend, we just haven’t seen many ultimately taken.

Today, we’re looking at 10 QMJHLers who deserve your attention. This isn’t exactly a ranking of 1-10, but instead, we’re shining a light on players you need to pay attention to, just like we did with the OHL and WHL:

Alexandre Blais, LW (Anaheim Ducks)

Team: Rimouski Océanic

Blais will have a shot to go for the Memorial Cup this year with Rimouski serving as host. The Ducks draft pick is first in team scoring, with his playmaking being his best trait. He’s not overly strong and doesn’t battle too much along the boards, but he gets the puck into high-danger spots more often than not. Blais is speedy, smart and sees the ice well – I just wish he’d be more engaged in the dirty areas. With the puck, though, the undersized winger gets the job done. Also, I have to give a shoutout to fellow Ducks prospect Maxim Masse, who missed time due to injury but has still produced at about 1.20 points per game all year with Chicoutimi.

Matvei Gridin, RW (Calgary Flames)

Team: Shawinigan Cataractes

Gridin was the USHL’s point leader a year ago, and his scoring prowess has continued over to the Q. He’s on pace for just fewer than 40 goals and 90 points with Shawinigan as Shawinigan’s top player. The winger is the lone NHL-drafted prospect on the team, and he’s almost always involved in the team’s high-end offensive plays. I think he also seems more engaged away from the puck, despite it still being a work in progress. Overall, Flames fans have to be happy about his play after using a first-rounder on him last summer.

Étienne Morin, D (Calgary Flames)

Team: Moncton Wildcats

Morin hasn’t been able to match his 72-point production from his draft year in 2023, but the Wildcats star hasn’t been any less impactful. In fact, he has been one of the best overall blueliners while averaging around 23-24 minutes a night. So much of the hype around him early on was because he had to play close to 30 minutes a night on a poor Moncton blueline. Now, it’s a better group, and Morin has been the one leading the charge at both ends. He’s not high-end in any element or skill. But as a smart, confident, hard-shooting blueliner, there’s a lot to like here and I can’t wait to see him transition to the AHL next season.

Justin Poirier, RW (Carolina Hurricanes)

Team: Baie-Comeau Drakkar

When Poirier fell to 156th in the draft last year, it wasn’t due to a lack of talent. Scouts were primarily worried about his 5-foot-9 frame. The Hurricanes have always been a team known for taking chances on skill, and Poirier might be their next big hit. He’s on track for more than 50 goals and just under 100 points in his third year with Baie-Comeau, with him registering multi-point efforts significantly more than he leaves a game without a point. He’s also quite feisty, too. So, you mix his innate scoring ability with his competitive nature, and there’s no question why he’s so dangerous. Scouts aren’t sure his game will translate to the NHL, especially if he isn’t on the power play. But in the Q, few players are more dangerous and possess a shot as deadly.

Rudy Guimond, G (Detroit Red Wings)

Team: Moncton Wildcats

When Guimond was drafted in 2023, he was just playing prep hockey, which pales in comparison to the USHL. When he jumped to Cedar Rapids for his USHL rookie campaign, his numbers were below average. Still, many believed in the 6-foot-3 goaltender, but he needed to take his game up a notch. After the NCAA’s rules were relaxed to allow CHLers, Guimond became one of the first to move to the CHL, and it has paid off. He hasn’t lost a single game for the Wildcats since making his debut back in December. Guimond’s impressive start allowed the team to trade Jacob Steinman to Halifax, with Guimond sharing the net with 2024 Canadian World Junior goalie Mathis Rousseau. The Yale University commit has been the better of the two goaltenders this year, and has some of the best numbers in the CHL – but he hasn’t played a ton of games just yet.

Matyáš Melovský C (New Jersey Devils)

Team: Baie-Comeau Drakkar

The 20-year-old Melovský is having a big final season of major junior, playing at a 60-assist, 90-point pace. He was one of the top overage prospects last year after using his top-line spot on the Czech World Junior team to show off his playmaking chops to get himself noticed. This year, he’s shooting more and playing a bit more aggressively overall – exactly the type of elements you’d want to see from an older prospect. I’m interested to see if he can keep producing once he heads to the AHL because I think he’s quite smart and can cause some damage.

Cam Squires, RW (New Jersey Devils)

Team: Cape Breton Eagles

Call him Mr. Consistency. He hasn’t had a big blow-up offensively over the past three years in Cape Breton, but he’s almost always one of the best players on the ice. Squires’ ability to make smart, effective plays with the puck without being too creative or flashy makes him someone a coach can rely on. He tends to get himself into scoring lanes with little difficulty, and while he could use a bit more accuracy on his shot, he has shown he can be a quality goal-scorer. The big knock against Squires is his below-average skating, but I can see him still cracking an NHL roster for the ability to just make things happen every single night.

Ethan Gauthier, RW (Tampa Bay Lightning)

Team: Drummondville Voltigeurs

One of two players on this list to represent Canada at the World Juniors, Gauthier gave fans a taste of what he’s capable of. He’s a pro-caliber player – he hits hard, plays hard and shoots hard. There’s so much power to his game, and while he’s not going to put up a ton of points in the NHL, he’s the type of forward you could throw anywhere into the lineup and feel confident. Gauthier’s shot is underrated, although I wish he’d use it more. At the very least, I can see him becoming a bottom-six penalty-killer who will make you work so much harder than you thought you would just to beat him. In the QMJHL, though, he’s on pace for his third consecutive season in the 69-71 point range while being a matchup nightmare.

Mathieu Cataford, RW (Vegas Golden Knights)

Team: Rimouski Océanic

Cataford was a depth piece on Canada’s WJC team, so we didn’t get to see him at his full potential. He was known more as a goal-scorer during his days in Halifax, but he has taken more of a playmaker role in Rimouski while Jacob Mathieu launches shots from just about everywhere. Cataford was the QMJHL MVP last year, and while his numbers won’t blow anyone away this year, he’s a skilled forward who can play with just about anyone and play any of the three forward positions.

Ēriks Mateiko, LW (Washington Capitals)

Team: Rimouski Océanic

Speaking of Rimouski, Mateiko has been a tremendous addition since helping Latvia beat Canada at the World Juniors. The former Saint John Sea Dogs captain has been humming around at just under a point per game and is scoring better than he ever did. The 6-foot-6 power forward plays with a ton of skill, and he’s energetic, too. Mateiko just seems like the type of prospect who’ll impress more at the pro level because he plays with such power. The Capitals have a solid pipeline, and while Mateiko might just be a bottom-six player, I think he’ll be a good one.

Other notables: Maxim Massé, RW (Anaheim Ducks), Dylan MacKinnon, D (Nashville Predators), Raoul Boilard, C (New York Rangers), Spencer Gill, D (Philadephia Flyers), Alexis Bernier, D (Seattle Kraken), Juraj Pekarcik, LW (St. Louis Blues), Tomas Lavoie, D (Utah Hockey Club)

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