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The NHL pre-season is well underway, with many teams already playing in multiple games. With each passing day, each team is looking leaner and leaner as they try to organize who could make the roster for opening night.
That said, there’s nine players who would otherwise be in the QMJHL this season that are still sticking around, when many other prospects and pros have been already cut.
The most notable QMJHL player still at an NHL Camp is likely Matvei Gridin, the newest member of the Shawinigan Cataractes. He went pointless in his sole game, a 6-1 win against the Seattle Kraken. The Flames first rounder has yet to have played in the QMJHL, as he played in the USHL last season — scoring 83 points (38+45) in 60 games.
Colorado’s Nikita Prischepov, who would be an overager if he were to return to the Victoriaville Tigres, is also still at camp — he has played in the Avs’ sole pre-season game, assisting on a goal. The 2024 seventh round pick is coming off of a 67 point season (22+45).
Tampa still has two QMJHL prospects with the main team; Drummondville’s Ethan Gauthier and Gatineau’s Jan Golicic. Neither have suited up for games this pre-season. Gauthier, a former 2023 second rounder, won the QMJHL championship with the Voltigeurs in a season where he notched 71 points (36+35) across 64 games. Jan Golicic had a 29-point (3+26) draft campaign as a defenseman, which ended with his selection in the fourth round of the 2024 NHL Draft.
Cape Breton’s Cam Squires is still with the Devils, although hasn’t played yet. If still with the main squad by game time, he could potentially be in the mix in tonight’s game against the Washington Capitals. Squires notched 72 points (33+39) last season with the Eagles, leading the team.
Vegas prospect Mathieu Cataford is still with the Knights, although he hasn’t played any games this pre-season so far. Cataford is expected to eventually join the Memorial Cup hosting Rimouski Océanic, after a 90-point (40+50) season with the Halifax Mooseheads.
Defenseman Tomas Lavoie is still with Utah, appearing in one game so far. The former first overall pick in the QMJHL tallied 24 points (3+21) with Cape Breton last year, leading to his selection in the third round.
Justin Poirier (Carolina/BAC), Quentin Miller (Montreal/RIM) are still with their NHL clubs, albeit are there as they are injured.
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