Elliot Desnoyers is hitting the ground running in his second season in the QMJHL; first since being drafted. After having a 35 point season in 61 games for the loaded Moncton Wildcats in 2019-20. Desnoyers is taking it to another level this season for now with the Halifax Mooseheads. Two tweets by our very own Jamey Baskow from back in October help to highlight the youngster’s success.
Jamey hit it right on the head. Desnoyers has been smoking hot since getting traded to the Mooseheads. He has been an intriguing player to follow and surely a diamond in the rough pickup potentially. Since the 24th of October, he has added another tally giving him six goals and seven assists for thirteen points. This is a kid who has great hockey instincts and is brilliant away from the puck. He just seems to know when to make a quick decision to shoot or pass and how to use to defender to shoot around him and impede the goalies view. You can see an example of this in the highlight below as Desnoyers makes a nice toe drag shot around the defender to light the lamp. Then below that you can see a highlight of Desnoyers first goal driving the net on an assist from Zachary L’Heureux, a top prospect in the 2021 NHL Draft.
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As our very own Jamey Baskow pointed out great again, from his style of play early it seems when he is with the puck. Desnoyers has a shoot-first mentality that the Flyers certainly can use. Furthermore, he is one of the best players in the draft away from the puck whether a later round picks or not. This is what can make Desnoyers the steal he can be of this draft. He is so so smart and skilled on the ice away from the play whether that is on defense or offense. Elliott Desnoyers is the player you want if you want someone that’s always going to give the extra mile to get to the right place on the ice even if that means sacrificing his body.
Desnoyers Elite Prospects 2020 Draft Guide sums his game up so well:
“He’s so much better off of the puck than he is on it. If you want a player who will selflessly run head-first through a brick wall if that’s what’s necessary for his linemates to succeed, then look no further than Desnoyers. He plays an honest brand of hockey in the defensive zone and never flees a moment sooner than his team has secured the puck.”- Eliteprospects scouting report on Elliot Desnoyers
This is exactly the later round pick fans should want and are going to fall in love with. This kid gets it done in the dirty areas, he has a skilled shot and pass, and just plays a very intelligent game. Now we must not get ahead of ourselves as Desnoyers was picked as a guy who needs some time to develop. However, with a start this bright as a fifth-rounder one can only wonder how good of a late-round snag this could become. For now, we will just enjoy his play for the Mooseheads and look forward to seeing him in Orange and Black a few years down the pipe. Keep taking it to them, Elliot!! Let us know what you have thought of the pick so far in the comments section below if you would like. Have a great week all, you can follow me on Twitter at @jjborek26.
Ghost and Laughton 2nd round pick 3 round pick for Laine
Cant pay him
Nice! Desnoyers surprisingly looks a steal already!
We must try via trade get great right shot defender prospect from teams who have a lot defender depth at right side and more coming, so they can afford to lose one, if our return is good! Teams like Rangers, Colorado and others have a lot depth on their right side of defenses, thus should be able to deal one for good return! Our GM Fletcher should identify other teams right shot defensive prospects and scout the best one(hopefully with size to balance our smaller left side), and trade for him at all costs! If we do that and get almost ready star, but still that young enough that he needs no protection from Seattle! Just the kind of trade Yzerman did in case to get Sergatsev from Montreal for Druoin! If Justin Barron for example explodes in his draft+1 season, we must do everything to sign him!