Desnoyers signed a three-year entry level contract with Utah on March 23. A deal that starts a that beginning of the 2026-27 season, per TSN’s Renaud Lavoie. The 18-year-old scored 22 goals and totaled 78 points in 45 games for the Moncton Wildcats of the QMJHL during the 2025-26 regular season. He joined Team Canada for the 2026 World Junior Hockey Championships, providing six assists in seven games in a bronze-medal winning performance in Minnesota. The fourth overall pick from the 2025 NHL Draft could benefit from a rule change allowing 19-year-old, first-round draft picks to play in the AHL next season if he is unable to earn a roster spot with Utah out of camp.

Doing it the ‘Canadian Way’ in Comeback Win Against Finland

Caleb Desnoyers kicked off the third-period scoring by jamming a puck in on the power play during a scramble in the crease. Minutes later, Jackson Smith unleashed a screened shot from the point to extend Canada’s lead to 5-3. Finland mounted a late push, but with Lacelle locked in, the comeback effort came too late to stop Canada from sealing the victory.

Extra Time:

In accordance with the Showcase format, both teams agreed to play an additional overtime period and shootout regardless of the regulation score.

It was a slow overtime period with Finland dominating all of the possession. Vertti Svensk was the OT hero, scoring one just over the left pad of Lacelle.

The shootout ended 3-1 in favour of Canada across 5 shooters. Desnoyers, Reschny, and Tynan Lawrence all scored for Canada, with Somervuori being the only goal scorer for Finland.

Both teams will enjoy a day off tomorrow before the final day of Showcase action on Saturday, where Finland takes on Sweden, and Canada will take on Team USA.

F Cole Reschny (CAN | Calgary Flames)

This was a completely different Cole Reschny than the one on display at last year’s World Juniors. Sitting out the first game against Sweden, I was interested to see what Reschny would provide for this Canadian team, but he was excellent tonight. He generated numerous high-quality chances, assisting on both Zhilkin and Verhoeff’s goals as well. His physical presence stood out as well, using strong positioning to separate body from puck and delivering several heavy hits. He had the best game of anyone on Day 4 and will be a must-watch player in Canada’s game against Team USA.

F Caleb Desnoyers (CAN | Utah Mammoth)

Desnoyers was a standout in all three periods as a hard-nosed forechecker who forced turnovers all game long. On one sequence, his relentless pressure forced a giveaway that drew a hooking penalty, which he later capitalized on himself. As a returning player, he’ll be relied upon to log heavy minutes and anchor the penalty kill for Team Canada come December.

Game Report – Moncton Wildcats 6 vs Blainville-Boisbriand Armada 2 – April 27th, 2026

#18 F, Caleb Desnoyers

Team: Moncton Wildcats, QMJHL

Height/Weight: 6’2”, 180Ibs

Shoots: Left

DOB April 11th, 2007

Overview:

Caleb Desnoyers is a dynamic two-way/playmaking centerman with a complete game that blends offensive creativity, physicality, and defensive awareness. His exceptional playmaking and vision on the ice when it comes to understanding the positioning of his teammates is one of, if not his strongest attribute. He demonstrates solid puck skills and persistence, maintaining control under pressure due to him understanding how to use his frame very well. While his shot is powerful but less consistent than his passing, Desnoyers forces goaltenders to stay sharp with his strong pass-to-shot ratio. Defensively, he excels in positioning, faceoffs, and as mentioned, using his size effectively. However, his edgework needs improvement, as slow pivots and transitioning in tight spaces provides him some difficulty when it comes to generating explosiveness.

After an amazing 2024-25 and being drafted fourth overall by Utah, it came out Desnoyers played most of the year with injuries to both wrists. It made the great season even more amazing. He had hoped to rehab the injuries through the offseason but unfortunately, that was not the case. In early August it was announced that Desnoyers had undergone wrist surgery and will be sidelined for approximately three months. After rehabbing in Utah for a while he has since returned to Moncton, where Desnoyers will continue to rehab and was named team captain for the 2025-26 campaign.

One of the top players in the QMJHL during the 2024-25 season, he led a league-leading team. Playing for Moncton, Desnoyers helped the team reach the Memorial Cup championship and was named MVP of the QMJHL playoffs. An excellent skater, he creates offense on the move, from the perimeter, and at the net. Desnoyers has great creativity as a playmaker, while also being a detailed two-way player. He can be trusted to check top players, playing with a physical edge in his game. Desnoyers has the potential to be a No. 1 center who can play in any situation. While he is considered one of the top NHL-ready prospects from the draft, GM Bill Armstrong is strongly against rushing players.

Selected at fourth overall, Caleb Desnoyers is now a member of the Utah Mammoth.

While always a scout’s dream thanks to his physicality, playmaking skill, and intangible qualities, Desnoyers was a revelation all the same in the QMJHL playoffs, winning playoff MVP off the strength of his 30 points in 19 games. However, his Wildcats faltered in the Memorial Cup as Desnoyers struggled to find the scoresheet. The final months of the season demonstrated both the highs (timely offence, physicality, game-breaking skill) and the lows (difficulty establishing himself at 5v5, in tighter-checking games) of Desnoyers’ game.

Desnoyers entered the year as a lottery-pick favourite. Despite playing in the much-maligned QMJHL, Desnoyers has maintained that momentum, with his over 1.5 point-per-game production and projectable two-way game solidifying his spot in the early first round.

CHL Vs USA Hockey Top Prospect Game 2

#18 F, Caleb Desnoyers

Team: Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL, Canada)

Height/Weight: 6’2”, 180Ibs

Shoots: Left

DOB April 11th, 2007

Overview:

Caleb Desnoyers is a dynamic two-way/playmaking centerman with a complete game that blends offensive creativity, physicality, and defensive awareness. His exceptional playmaking and vision on the ice when it comes to understanding the positioning of his teammates is one of, if not his strongest attribute. He demonstrates solid puck skills and persistence, maintaining control under pressure due to him understanding how to use his frame very well. While his shot is powerful but less consistent than his passing, Desnoyers forces goaltenders to stay sharp with his strong pass-to-shot ratio. Defensively, he excels in positioning, faceoffs, and as mentioned, using his size effectively. However, his edgework needs improvement, as slow pivots and transitioning in tight spaces provides him some difficulty when it comes to generating explosiveness. With refinement in his skating and shooting mechanics whether its about being square to where he wants to shoot the puck, or even finding techniques that allows himself to be smoother in transition, he projects as a top-10 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft and a potential top-six forward with a 65-70-point ceiling who can be slotted in any situation given.

DRAFTPRO – 2024 IIHF U18 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP REVIEW – CANADA

Martone was named captain and the only returnee for Canada at the tournament. Playing on a line with Gavin McKenna (Medicine Hat) and Caleb Desnoyers (Moncton), all three forwards are not eligible until the 2025 and 2026 NHL Draft. Martone is not draft eligible until 2025 because he was born with a late 2006 birthday. The combination of skill and size Martone possesses was too much for defenders throughout the tournament. Watching Martone with the puck, he draws in multiple defenders to challenge him for the puck forcing the defence to collapse and create valuable open space for his teammates in the offensive zone. Martone is so effective at shielding the puck with his size and thoroughly understands how to use his body to gain advantages on the ice. Martone plays similar to a power forward; he finishes his checks, he hunts down pucks and uses his body to create offence. Yet, his skill with the puck is his strongest trait. Martone was a perfect fit for a top line with McKenna and Desnoyers, players that create offence using speed and quick in transition, Martone was so effective for this line because he utilized his size to create space on the ice for McKenna, who is so dangerous playing with speed and open space, and Martone possesses great passing ability that allowed him dish pucks out into open space for teammates in high danger scoring areas. Martone finished the tournament with 17 points, 5 goals and 12 assists in 7 games. He possesses a strong shot, capable of scoring from distance and great hand-eye coordination, he keeps plays alive in the offensive zone by batting down pucks out of the air and even scored a goal against Kazakhstan by batting the puck out of the air. Important to consider, Martone recorded secondary assists in the semi-final and gold medal game. Although secondary assists are not always praised as much as primary assists by some, His effort on the assists should be noted as Martone started the scoring play and through his effective passing and puck protection, it led to significant goals for Canada in the respected hockey games. Martone is projected as a top prospect for the 2025 NHL Draft and will be a key player for a highly competitive Steelheads team aiming to make an OHL Championship run next season.

Final Rankings – Desnoyers had an outstanding conclusion to his draft year, winning the Guy Lafleur Trophy for QMJHL playoff MVP after leading the Wildcats to their third title in franchise history. While imposing himself on the scoresheet (31 points in 19 games) Caleb’s play shone constantly in all three zones. His hockey IQ and compete level allow him to make subtle but highly important plays that contribute to his team’s success and make his teammates around him better. On top of his well-rounded game, Caleb possesses superior puck skills and vision which allows him to buy time and space for himself and spot teammates in high-danger scoring positions. His ability to consistently be the main play driver on an experienced Moncton Wildcats team, combined with his pedigree as a complete centerman, suggests that he should go very high in this year’s 2025 NHL Draft.—

While not always a high-pace player, Desnoyers has poise, excellent vision, and a solid puckhandle in tight spaces. He’s a committed and typically responsible defensive player who is especially effective when he flashes the higher-level physicality he can often bring. Thanks to a hot start, Desnoyers is likely to be the first QMJHL player off the board this spring.