“He Just Gets It”

“So, the kid goes over and gives the guy a shot instead of the other older guy standing right there,” I said referring to Caleb Desnoyers shoving a Halifax Mooseheads forward in the chest for jabbing at Wildcats goaltender Jacob Steinman.

“He just gets it,” replied one NHL scout.

6,035 people attended yesterday’s game at the Avenir Centre, there’s no question some people may have caught Desnoyers’ subtle little play while others may have missed it all together.

For a 16-year-old kid, with all the pressure in the world, Caleb Desnoyers plays like a grizzled veteran.

Photo Credit Daniel St Louis

Cliches, superlatives and comparisons get thrown around the hockey world quite frequently when it comes to describing young talented players, but what about the elite ones? How would one go about describing them?  The word “special” comes to mind almost instantly.  Caleb Desnoyers is a special player and a star in the making.

You can throw all of the descriptors you want out there to describe Desnoyers and they would all perfectly align with his skill set, but most of all his character which far exceeds that of most players his age.

The NHL scout hit the nail on the head, Caleb Desnoyers just gets it.

Obviously, Desnoyers’ story and complete immersion and ascension in the game of hockey is well documented. Nevertheless, it’s incredibly rare for such a young player to understand and fully comprehend all of the subtleties and nuances that sets players apart, “he just gets it,” he plays the game and his position the right way every time he steps on the ice.

The Moncton Wildcats have had their share of young stars over the years, but Desnoyers enters the fold not as a “savior” of the organization, but as the potential “answer” to the Wildcats championship drought.  

Jakob Pelletier was the cornerstone of the Wildcats rebuild, when he burst on the scene in 2017. Pelletier shouldered most of the load, pressure and some would even say burden that came with junior hockey’s dreaded cycle in the Hub City. Desnoyers stepped into the QMJHL with high expectations of being a 1^st overall draft pick, but also the pressure of living up to the hype surrounding his arrival. The young skilled two-way forward has undoubtedly surpassed those expectations and he has done it with the class, dignity and character of a true pro, because he just gets it.

In 34 games, Desnoyers has 9 goals and 24 assists. Desnoyers lets his play on the ice do the talking. He’s not cocky, entitled or flashy, he just gets the job done, every time he steps on the ice. He doesn’t cheat offensively, he doesn’t shy away from the dirty areas of the ice, if anything he welcomes and cherishes that aspect of the game and center position.

Photo Credit Daniel St Louis

Wildcats Head Coach Dan Lacroix eased him into the lineup by playing him on the wing in the bottom six for the first few games of the season to ensure he gained some early traction, but it was clear from the get-go, Desnoyers was more than ready to step in and be an impact player. The future star now finds himself centering the Wildcats top line and playing in every situation.

Some comparisons are unfair, but I find he plays a similar style of game to that of Philadelphia Flyers star forward Sean Courturier.

I wrote this scouting report on Desnoyers last June having watched the kid online. He has even surpassed my expectations in his brief but remarkable first foray in the QMJHL.

Caleb Desnoyers F St-Hyacinthe Gaulois: Ultra-competitive, highly skilled playing making and scoring forward who can play both forward positions with relative ease, has all of the tools to be an effective power forward at the next level and beyond. Tons of pro potential, type of player that can skate for days and really drive offensive opportunities based on skill and will alone. Creates time and space for himself and teammates with his exceptional talent and puck skills in traffic, amazing edge work, speed for days, processes the game extremely well, great two-way presence, isn’t scared to go to the dirty areas, if anything this player embraces the challenge of one-on-one puck battles in all three zones. Desnoyers has dynamic release, it’s hard and accurate shot, This kid is about as Q ready as anyone I’ve seen in quite some time within the league, His touch around and soft hands in tight and around the net is next level, Caleb Desnoyers is going to be a difference maker for the team that selects him. It’s easy to make comparisons to that of his brother Eliott, but there’s no question he’s forging his own path in the game. The one comparable that is most noteworthy is no doubt his will to compete, character and drive. It’s those intangibles that have set both Desnoyers’ brothers apart from their counterparts.

Caleb Desnoyers is a special player on a special trajectory. From the most subtle of plays, to the spectacular, this 16-year-old future super star just gets it!