Caleb Desnoyers participates in an on-ice session at the Utah Mammoth prospect development camp at the Park City Ice Arena in Park City on Monday, June 30, 2025 (Deseret News, Tess Crowley).
(Deseret News, Tess Crowley)
SALT LAKE CITY – After dealing with some injuries in the QMJHL last season, Utah Mammoth prospect and recent fourth overall pick Caleb Desnoyers underwent successful wrist surgery and will miss approximately three months.
BREAKING: Caleb Desnoyers underwent successful wrist surgery and is expected to miss approximately 12 weeks.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) August 14, 2025
Following a championship season with the Moncton Wildcats and being named the QMJHL playoff MVP with an impressive 30 points in 19 playoff games, the young center and future Mammoth revealed that he had accomplished it all while dealing with injuries to both wrists.
“Pretty much anything you can imagine you need your hands for hockey was affected by [the wrist injuries],” Desnoyers told NHL.com during the combine. “Lucky enough I have a good staff, good facilities, and my therapist in Moncton is excellent. So I just did a lot of treatments to help me get through it and give it 100 percent every night.”
Shortly after being selected by Utah in the 2025 NHL Draft, the front office shared that Desnoyers would not require surgery to repair his wrists.
However, despite participating in Utah’s development camp, General Manager Bill Armstrong confirmed on Thursday that Desnoyers had undergone successful wrist surgery and would miss approximately 12 weeks.
INJURY UPDATE pic.twitter.com/yhjVHkiXvh
— Utah Mammoth PR (@UtahMammoth_PR) August 14, 2025
Unfortunately for Desnoyers and the Mammoth, this means that the young center will miss rookie camp, the rookie showcase and training camp as he recovers.
Despite a confident and hopeful approach to “surprise everyone” and challenge for a roster spot just months after being drafted, the fourth overall pick will have to wait until 2026 before he’s able to suit up with NHL skaters and show everyone what he’s capable of.
Desnoyers takes the ice for the first time.#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/SJ5KvpAycw
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) June 30, 2025
With an estimated return of early November, the most likely scenario for Desnoyers would be another season in Moncton.
However, Desnoyers shared during his initial press conference with Utah that the NCAA could be an option for him, although nothing had been decided.
Caleb Desnoyers said the NCAA could be a consideration for him now but he wants to see what it takes to make the NHL.
“My goal right now is to surprise everyone and make the team next year.”#TusksUp
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) June 29, 2025
Caleb Desnoyers is an 18-year-old center from Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada.
Drafted first overall by the Moncton Wildcats in the 2023 QMJHL Draft, Desnoyers transformed into a top five NHL draft pick with his elite hockey IQ, lethal playmaking, consistent scoring and promising two-way game.
Over the last two seasons in Moncton, the young center has simply been excellent for the Wildcats as he’s registered 140 points (55 G, 85 A) in 116 games.
Internationally, Desnoyers also helped Team Canada win gold at the World U-17 Hockey Challenge, 2024 U18 World Championships and 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
