The Utah Mammoth have selected Caleb Desnoyers with the fourth overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. The 18-year-old center from Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, is set to bring his talents to Salt Lake City after a stellar season with the Moncton Wildcats in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).

Desnoyers is coming off an impressive season where he helped lead the Moncton Wildcats to a QMJHL championship. In 56 regular-season games, he tallied 35 goals and 49 assists for a total of 84 points. His performance earned him a spot on the QMJHL's Rookie All-Star Team. During the playoffs, Desnoyers continued to shine, adding nine goals and 21 assists for 30 points in 19 games. He was awarded the Guy Lafleur Trophy as the QMJHL's playoff MVP.

Utah Mammoth General Manager Bill Armstrong expressed his excitement about drafting Desnoyers, stating that the team had been targeting him since they jumped to the No. 4 spot in the draft lottery. Armstrong even hosted Desnoyers at his home to get to know him better, which only solidified their decision to draft him. "You've been the guy since the moment we jumped into four," Armstrong told Desnoyers. He also emphasized Desnoyers' character, describing him as "a great player and also a great person".

Desnoyers comes from a hockey family, with his older brother, Elliot, currently under contract with the Philadelphia Flyers. He has also represented Canada on the international stage, winning gold medals at the 2023 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship, and the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

Standing at 6-foot-2 and weighing 182 pounds, Desnoyers is considered a versatile, two-way player with a high hockey IQ and strong offensive skills. Jason Bukala, a Sportsnet analyst, projects him as a top-line forward who can play in all situations. Some scouts have compared Desnoyers to New Jersey Devils center Nico Hischier, highlighting his potential as a high-end offensive producer who is also defensively responsible.

While Desnoyers' offensive game may not be as dynamic as some other players in his draft range, his size, physicality, defensive sense, and work ethic make him a valuable asset. Chris Peters from FloHockey notes that Desnoyers has the potential to be a top-six center who can excel in tough matchups.

Desnoyers also has a familiar face within the Utah Mammoth organization. He was teammates with Gabe Smith, Utah's 2024 fourth-round pick, on the Moncton Wildcats. Desnoyers mentioned that Smith helped him through the draft process.

Despite a nagging wrist injury during the season, Desnoyers led Moncton to the Memorial Cup. He revealed that he is still awaiting word on scans for injuries to both of his wrists but is expected to be healthy for offseason training.

With Logan Cooley looking like a solid No. 1 center, Desnoyers is expected to drive a second line. Experts predict that he could be NHL-ready in approximately two to three years, aligning with the timeline of the Utah Mammoth's development as a team.