The QMJHL fell on some lean years at the NHL Entry Draft as they went without seeing even one player from the league be selected in the first round in 2023 or 2024. The drought came to an end in 2025 when three QMJHL players were selected in the first round and 19 in total were selected, which was an increase from 12 in 2023 and 15 in 2024.
The 2026 class looks to be stronger than the 2025 class, which could indicate the discussions to overhaul the development systems in Quebec should slow down. Here is a list of five QMJHL players who are challenging to become first-round picks in 2026.
Xavier Villeneuve – Left Defence – Blainville-Boisbriand Armada
Based purely on his offensive skill, Villeneuve is a top-10 pick. This season, he is on pace for more than 80 points and has been the source of most of the offence for the Armada. He oozes confidence when carrying the puck, and he has excellent offensive hockey IQ, anticipating plays and openings before they happen, even forcing player movements that open up those opportunities that he then exploits.
“Xavier is an electrifying offensive-minded defenseman with great agility and dazzling puck-handling abilities up the rush, showing significant potential for the 2026 NHL draft as a 1st round pick.” – Tyler Ballesteros-Willard
He is a smooth skater with good edgework and mobility, using quick punch turns and change-ups in speed to create space. But his risk-taking does come at a cost defensively. Villeneuve is much smaller than you’d want from a top defenseman.
Standing at 5’11’’ and 157 pounds, his size and strength deficiencies will be an issue, as they can limit his effectiveness defensively. He can’t rely on strength to win physical battles in the corners or in front of the net; instead, he will need to use body positioning and quick reactions to win leverage in any battle. He will be a bit of a project for teams, but the Lane Hutsons and Quinn Hughes’ of the world show how even smaller offensive defencemen can transform a team’s offensive potential.
Egor Shilov – Centre, Victoriaville Tigres
Shilov is a skilled 200-foot center who has a high hockey IQ and can be used in any situation. He’s also quick and aggressive, but lacks consistency from game to game as at times he can be slow to react defensively or to take advantage offensively of a misstep by his opponent. When he is on his game, his defensive play is impressive. He can be difficult to handle along the boards, but also in open ice, where he can adeptly funnel opponents to the outside before cutting them off along the boards or allowing his defencemen to do the job. He is also active low in his own zone, helping to provide support for his defenders, and providing a target to help launch the transition game with a controlled zone exit.
Offensively, after 27 games in the 2025-26 season, Shilov sits second in team goals (14) and tied for first in total points (35) with Victoriaville, putting him on an 80+ point pace on the season. He uses his frame effectively in the offensive zone as well, where he excels in the cycle game, winning board battles before creating offensive opportunities for his linemates.
He is a pass-first player, with a preference to make centring plays from below the goal line, but he does possess a heavy and accurate shot, especially off the rush. His game translates well to the professional levels, and his faceoff abilities and defensive game will be his ticket to breaking through to the top 32.
Olivers Murnieks – Centre – Saint John Sea Dogs
Murnieks has been Latvia’s top player on the international stage and is a lock for the Under-20 World Junior Championship team in 2026. He already plays a pro-style game, keeping it simple with a north-south style, which allows him to backcheck effectively and engage physically. His defensive positioning in his own zone is consistently excellent, and he uses his 6’1’’ 190-pound frame to break up the cycle with well-timed pinches. He has a strong hockey IQ, allowing him to anticipate developing plays and react accordingly.
He is relied upon for important faceoffs and can be trusted to play in any situation. His skating form does look inefficient, but with some refinement, it could become a strength. In the meantime, his edgework and mobility issues are made up for with good straight-line speed. Offensively, he is a threat in the slot, using his size to battle into the high danger areas. He boasts above-average playmaking skills as he can place accurate passes through traffic and has a good release with his shot in close. Murnieks translatable two-way game and ability to engage in all three zones points to a ceiling of a two-way, penalty killing third-line centre.
Oleg Kulebyakin – Right Wing -Halifax Mooseheads
This player has forced his way into this conversation. He was not seen as a top prospect at the start of the season with a W rating from NHL Central Scouting as a potential 6th/7th-round pick, but has since forced his way into the conversation in the top two rounds. Drafted ninth overall by Halifax in the CHL import draft, Kulebyakin was well-travelled in 2024-25 playing for five teams across five leagues. Yet he consistently remained a scoring threat, scoring 47 goals in 55 games played between those five teams. This season, the trend continues as he has 17 goals in the first 25 games played with the Mooseheads, leading the team in goals (is eighth in the QMJHL) and leading in total points (31).
Offensively, the Russian winger shines. He plays at a high pace, using that to his advantage, cutting time and space from defenders, causing them to rush plays. He excels at generating small-area plays. Once he has the puck on his stick, while he does have excellent puck handling and one-on-one skills, he prefers to keep to the simple plays, using speed to get past defenders and using give-and-go passes before letting loose a hard and accurate shot with a quick and deceptive release. He also has the confidence and skills to hold possession for that extra second to draw out defenders from their established defensive positions, opening up new lanes that he can exploit with a quick pass or use as a shooting lane. He is also adept at finding gaps in high danger zones and is unafraid of battling through coverage to get to scoring areas.
He can play a physical style, not initiating contact but battling through it in the offensive zone. He will need to add some strength to his 5’ 11’’ and 176-pound frame if he wants to remain effective at the next level. Kulebyakin plays with a high pace and brings energy to every shift, showing an ability to jump from one battle to the next along the boards, to the front of the net. His skating abilities are still raw as he needs to elongate his stride to add power and speed, as well as improve his edgework to allow him the ability to change directions without losing speed, which is necessary for his offensive game to translate to the pro ranks. Defensively, he is still a work in progress as he does miss assignments in his own zone and is still cheating to the offensive side of the puck in the hopes of a quicker zone exit pass. He has top-six upside but is still seen as a long-term project to refine his game.
Lars Steiner, Right Wing, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies
Lars Steiner had a strong D-1 campaign as he had 60 points in 57 games and was named to the CHL’s All-Rookie team. This season, the 5-foot-10, 176-pound forward is an offensive threat, scoring five goals and 14 points in 15 games. He unfortunately missed 12 games due to an upper-body injury. He is also relied upon to play a leadership role, as he was named an assistant captain. The Swiss import plays with no fear, going to the dirty areas and paying the physical toll to do it. He is a skilled playmaker with a good shot, which he uses to keep defenders guessing on which tool he will use, a pass or a shot, forcing them to respect the shot, and buying himself an extra split second to allow the play to develop. He has good vision and anticipation, allowing him to make the right play without risking a costly turnover.
He is able to play at a high pace, but he can also slow the play down depending on what the team needs in the moment. He brings a strong and consistent work ethic to every shift. He has good skating ability, displaying a good first step and excellent top speed, at which he can still anticipate and complete plays effectively. Defensively, he is responsible, tracking back quickly to assist in cutting off the middle of the ice in the neutral zone, then playing a positionally sound defensive game in his own zone, where he can play physical if necessary but also use his stick to cut off lanes and stifle the attack. The injury may hurt his chances to break into the first round, but his skill set and consistency could be enough to have him break the top 32.