Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks Draft Profiles: Caleb Desnoyers

Published

6 months ago

May 30, 2025

Today’s Blackhawks Draft Profile will wrap up our look at the possible selections for the third overall pick of the NHL Entry Draft. Our sixth and final profile for No. 3 will be on center Caleb Desnoyers. If you’ve enjoyed these profiles, don’t worry, we will focus on the 25^th overall pick with our next batch.

Tale of the Tape

Date of Birth: April 11, 2007
Place of Birth: St. Hyacinthe, QC
Position: Center
Shoots: Left
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 172 pounds
2024-25 Team: Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)

Player Profile

Caleb Desnoyers is another player whose stock rose as the season went on. He was a very productive player who showed off his elite playmaking skills and high hockey IQ on a nightly basis. He scored 35 goals and 84 points in 56 regular-season games. Desnoyers continued his success with nine goals and 30 points in 19 playoff games as the Wildcats won the QMJHL championship. However, he went pointless in the final three games of the QMJHL Final and all three outings at the Memorial Cup.

At 6-foot-2, Desnoyers has the frame the Blackhawks need down the middle. Obviously, he will need to fill it out, but there is plenty of time for that. His playmaking skills are what made him rise on the draft boards. There isn’t a pass he can’t make, as he’s always looking to find his teammates in high-danger areas. Desnoyers has a bad habit of trusting his passing skill too much. He often tries to take risks that lead to turnovers, but the skill is there.

While Desnoyers’ shot isn’t the most powerful in the draft class, it is effective. He had a 19.8 shooting percentage during the regular season and 18.3 in the playoffs. That is a crazy rate to sustain for a full season, but he did.

Desnoyers plays well in all three zones. He’s more than capable in transition through the neutral zone, and he’s hard to get off the puck. Despite needing a few more pounds, he’s still good with his body. He wins more one-on-one battles than he loses, is strong along the boards, and will initiate contact.

What Experts are Saying

“He’s a good-sized center with room to add muscle, and scouts love him as a projectable 2C who plays a smart, detailed, well-rounded two-way game with good skill and poise. He’s firmly in the top five conversation now for NHL clubs, and while he doesn’t have the skill or skating of Misa or Hagens, if he can add a little more pace, he’s going to have a long career as an important center who contributes to winning on good teams.” – Scott Wheeler, The Athletic

“An adept passer and very smart offensive zone player who also initiates contacts and resists physical pressure remarkably well, Desnoyers fills most of the boxes when it comes to what NHL teams look for in a center. To us, him being sold as this two-way force doesn’t really track, as he’s often not as involved as he could be in the defensive zone, and we also don’t think the skill level is at a top 10 level.” – SMAHT Scouting

“Relentless compete, high-end skill, and plenty of physical growth potential make Desnoyers a mainstay within the top five.” – Sam Cosentino, Sportsnet

Blackhawks Fit

The Blackhawks can certainly use a player like Desnoyers. However, I pause with a player with such a high shooting percentage. If they selected fifth or sixth, I’d happily take him. However, taking Desnoyers third overall triggers Kirby Dach PTSD. It feels like a Stan Bowman “smartest-guy-in-the-room” move. I’d be disappointed if players like James Hagens, Porter Martone, or Anton Frondell are passed up at that spot.