Forward Caleb Desnoyers #18 of Team CHL prior to a game against Team USA during the CHL USA Prospects Challenge at Canada Life Place on November 26, 2024 in London, Ontario. (Photo by Dennis Pajot/Getty Images)
(Photo by Dennis Pajot/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – With the NHL Draft less than four weeks away, the biggest overlying question surrounding the league’s newest franchise is very simple. Who will the Utah Mammoth pick at 4? Stepping into combine week, let’s take a look at potential prospects. Next up, center Caleb Desnoyers.
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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 has transformed into a top 2025 NHL prospect 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.
Notably, Desnoyers also led his junior squad to a QMJHL Championship this past season with 30 total points in the playoffs.
Your 2024-2025 CHAMPIONS! 🏆 @monctonwildcats | #QPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/zc3Vik3FOD
— QMJHL (@QMJHL) May 19, 2025
For his efforts, Desnoyers was named the QMJHL Playoff MVP.
Caleb Desnoyers is the #QPlayoffs MVP!
The @monctonwildcats forward racked up 30 points (9G-21A) in 19 postseason games! 👏 pic.twitter.com/a1ivYQTT36
— QMJHL (@QMJHL) May 19, 2025
Internationally, Desnoyers also helped Team Canada win gold at the World U-17 Hockey Challenge, 2024 U18 World Championships and 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
Appearing on most mock drafts as a consensus top five selection, Desnoyers is an elite center with phenomenal vision, dangerous creativity, nasty handles and a highly accurate shot.
Arguably one of the best playmakers in the draft, Desnoyers is a threat from anywhere in the offensive zone as he’s able to consistently place the puck in dangerous areas for either himself or his teammates.
Whether he’s driving towards the net, surveying the zone, crowding the crease or weaving through defensemen, Desnoyers processes the game lightning fast which allows him to make threatening plays.
Pekarcik caps off an insane setup by Desnoyers to score the very first goal of the Final! 🔥#QPlayoffs | @monctonwildcats pic.twitter.com/QlQGnjKDSy
— QMJHL (@QMJHL) May 10, 2025
“Desnoyers thinks the game at an elite level. He’s calculating off the rush and displays an ability to attack with speed or pull up, take stock of his options, and distribute. It’s nearly impossible to teach forwards to play the game the way Desnoyers does,” Jason Bukala of SportsNet said.
Lastly, given his 6-foot-2 frame, Desnoyers is never one to shy away from physicality and is able to effectively utilize his size on both ends of the ice.
Desnoyers biggest criticism is that while he does have elite vision and lethal playmaking abilities, at times, he’s been known to take unnecessary risks and struggle with his decision making.
Once he transitions to the NHL, the young center will need to be a bit more careful with the puck to avoid poor turnovers and lower passing efficiency.
The simple answer here is yes, but it seems rather unlikely.
While anything can happen in the NHL Draft and the unexpected takes place every year, it’s hard to imagine Utah passing over the likes of Porter Martone or James Hagens, one of which will likely be available once the Mammoth are on the clock.
However, Desnoyers has been quickly rising up draft boards and garnered a lot of attention with his impressive 30-point playoff performance which demonstrated his ability to perform at the highest level when it mattered most.
So, while Desnoyers would be a bit of a surprise at No. 4, Utah needs more size, scoring and playmaking which is exactly what the 18-year-old center offers.
Related: Possible NHL Draft Scenarios For Utah Mammoth After Winning 4th Overall Pick
Following the conclusion of the Utah Mammoth’s inaugural season, the next notable event will be the NHL Draft on June 27 and 28.
After recently drawing the fourth overall draft pick in the 2025 NHL draft, each of Utah’s upcoming draft selections will be dressed in the new Utah Mammoth home sweater.
Full story: Utah Hockey Club Draws No. 4 Overall Pick In 2025 NHL Draft Lottery
