LAS VEGAS | The QMJHL avoided the anticipated catastrophe, by managing to do better than the 2023 vintage, the worst in its history. But there is not necessarily cause for celebration.
With a total of 15 players drafted, this is the third worst harvest in the Quebec junior circuit after the 14 in 2016 and 2017, and the 12 last year.
In addition, the QMJHL had to wait until the very end of the second round before seeing its very first player being claimed, Rimouski Océanic defenseman Spencer Gill.
Work to do
Although the QMJHL actually had a better harvest than what was projected, the circuit’s commissioner, Mario Cecchini, was not breaking out the champagne.
“I want this to serve as a wake-up call for us,” he said. We must take note of the last two years and all the players must get their act together. I think that at the moment, there are a lot of experts and four or five paths that are favored. We have to realize that the one we have at the moment is not optimal and we have to look at what needs to change.”
That’s where the problem lies, according to Cecchini, who assures that the QMJHL is ready to take its share of the blame “no more, no less.” In his eyes, the strongest development entities in Quebec need to sit down together and agree on a common strategy.
“What I have seen in the meetings is that there are several different paths. Who is right, who is wrong? I am not an expert but I know that we have to sit down, look ahead and recognize that we should do better.”
An anti-QMJHL bias?
The question comes up almost every year: whether the QMJHL gets fair treatment compared to other circuits.
In light of conversations with NHL executives in Las Vegas, Mario Cecchini comes away with the feeling that, yes, the QMJHL is treated at the same level.
“The CEOs don’t owe me anything, so I take it for granted that they’re not telling me nonsense and that they’re saying what they really think. What they tell me is relatively positive. They’re the ones who calmed me down this week. I don’t think there’s any bias.”
A positive point, if there is one, for hockey in Quebec is that of the 15 QMJHL players drafted, seven were developed in Quebec (there were only five last year). We can also add the selections of Sacha Boisvert (first round, Chicago) and Xavier Veilleux (sixth round, Islanders), two Quebecers who play in the United States, and we bring the total to nine.
QMJHL players selected in 2024
Round Player Rank (QMJHL Team) NHL Team
2 59 Spencer Gill (Rimouski) Philadelphia
3 66 Maxim Massé (Chicoutimi) Anaheim
3 73 Alexis Bernier (Baie-Comeau) Seattle
3 89 Tomas Lavoie (Cap-Breton) Utah
3 90 Eriks Mateiko (Saint-Jean) Washington
4 99 Jakub Milota (Cap-Breton) Nashville
4,100 Alexandre Blais (Rimouski) Anaheim
4 103 Gabe Smith (Moncton) Utah
4 118 Jan Golicic (Gatineau) Tampa Bay
4 119 Raoul Boilard (Comeau Bay) NY Rangers
4 123 Simon-Pier Brunet (Drummondville) Buffalo
5 156 Justin Poirier (Baie-Comeau) Caroline
6 171 Matyas Melovsky (Baie-Comeau) New Jersey
7 209 Antoine Dorion (Quebec) St-Louis
7 217 Nikita Prishchepov (Victoriaville) Colorado
Number of QMJHL players selected since 2010
- 2010: 22
- 2011: 22
- 2012: 19
- 2013: 31
- 2014: 17
- 2015: 30
- 2016: 14
- 2017: 14
- 2018: 23
- 2019: 18
- 2020: 20
- 2021: 24
- 2022: 19
- 2023 : 12
- 2024 : 15
