Who Is Caleb Desnoyers? Inside the Viral Story Captivating Social Media Right Now

Lead-off pick sparks new era in Utah Caleb Desnoyers, the 18-year-old centre who tore up the QMJHL with 84 points in 54 games for the Moncton Wildcats last season, became the face of the Utah Mammoth on Friday night when the expansion club made him the fourth overall selection at the 2025 NHL Draft in Las Vegas. Why Utah wanted him Utah general manager Kelly Hextall praised Desnoyers’ “200-foot engine and elite hockey IQ,” citing the prospect’s knack for reading pressure and turning defence into transition offence—skills that fit perfectly with head coach Craig Berube’s forechecking system. At 6-foot-2 and 173 pounds, the Saint-Hyacinthe native already owns an NHL frame, but scouts rave even more about his poise on the half-wall and his deceptive release that produced 35 goals in junior play. Family pedigree Hockey runs deep in the Desnoyers household. Older brother Elliot is a Flyers prospect, and father David skated in the QMJHL during the 1990s. That background, say amateur scouts, shows in Caleb’s situational awareness and calmness in big moments—he captained Canada’s U-18 squad to gold at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup last August, posting nine points in five games. What’s next Desnoyers is expected to attend Mammoth development camp next week but will likely return to Moncton for one more season of seasoning. Utah’s analytics department projects him as a top-six centre who can drive play by Year 2; the club’s shallow prospect pool means he could debut as early as next spring if his faceoff numbers (55.4 % in the QMJHL postseason) translate to the pro level. Expert outlook “Caleb blends pace with patience—you don’t teach that,” said TSN draft analyst Bob McKenzie during the live broadcast. Independent scout Cam Robinson echoed the sentiment, ranking Desnoyers third overall on his final big board for vision and competitiveness. Fantasy and ticket-sales impact Season-ticket interest spiked on social media within minutes of the pick, and early fantasy projections peg Desnoyers as a sleeper keeper-league asset thanks to his dual-threat scoring and power-play usage upside. Key numbers at a glance • 84 points (35 G, 49 A) in 54 QMJHL games • 1.56 points per game (2nd among draft-eligible forwards) • 55.4 % faceoff win rate in playoffs • 6′2″, 173 lbs with a 73-inch wingspan Bottom line By landing Caleb Desnoyers, the Utah Mammoth secured a potential franchise cornerstone whose all-situations reliability, leadership lineage and offensive ceiling make him an ideal pillar for the NHL’s newest market.