You’ve seen the OHL coaches poll and what the WHL bench bosses had to say, now it’s time to head to head east and find out who the men who know best think the best players and teams are.
This is your 2016–17 pre-season QMJHL coaches poll:
| Who will win the scoring title? |
| 1st Anthony Beauvilier (SHA) |
| 2nd Nicolas Roy (CHI) |
| 3rd Alexandre Goulet (VIC) |
| Top NHL Draft prospect |
| 1st Maxime Comtois (VIC) |
| 2nd Nico Hischier (HAL) |
| Best overall player |
| 1st Anthony Beauvilier (VIC) |
| T-2nd Nicolas Roy (HAL), Samuel Girard (SHA) |
| 3rd Thomas Chabot (SNB) |
Roy had 48 goals and 90 points for the Chicoutimi Sagueneens last season (Getty Images)
| Most underrated player |
| 1st Mathieu Joseph (SNB) |
| T-2nd A. Alain (BLB), A. Morand (BAT), S. Smallman (SNB) E. Fitzpatrick (SHE) |
| Best hands |
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| 1st Vitalii Abramov (GAT) |
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| T-2nd A. Beauvillier (SHA), D. Sprong (CHA), C. GraasKamp (DRU), J. Gauthier (VDO) |
Vitalii Abramov’s 93 points for the Gatineau Olympiques led all rookies in scoring last season by 26 points. (Photo courtesy surlevif.net)
| Best bodychecker |
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| 1st Antoine Waked (ROU) |
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| T-2nd E. Leger (BAC), F. Beauchemin (VDO), Y. Turcotte (QUE), J. Truchon-Viel (BAT), C. Harwell (SHE) |
| Best pure sniper |
| 1st Julien Gauthier (VDO) |
| T-2nd D. Sprong (CHA), A. D’Aoust (SHA), N. Roy (CHI), J. Pelletier (SHE) |
Gauthier has a G/GP mark of 0.65 over the past two seasons. (Ken Andersen/Getty)
| Top playmaker |
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| 1st Anthony Beauvillier (SHA) |
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| T-2nd V. Abramov (GAT), A. Barré-Boulet (DRU), S. Girard (SHA), A. Morand (BAT) |
| Top forward |
| 1st Anthony Beauvillier (SHA) |
| T-2nd N. Roy (CHI), V. Abramov (GAT), S. Laberge (RIM) |
| Top defenceman |
| 1st Thomas Chabot (SNB) |
| 2nd Samuel Girard (SHA) |
| T-3rd P. Myers (ROU), J. Lauzon (ROU) |
Girard had more assists (64) than any other QMJHL blueliner had points last season. (Judith St-Pierre)
| Top goalie |
| T- 1st Evan Fitzpatrick (SHE), Julio Billia (CHI) |
| T- 3rd S. Montembeault (BLB), E. Montpetit (VDO), C. Booth (QUE) |
| Top overage player |
| 1st Alexis D’Aoust (SHA) |
| T-2nd S. Montembeault (BLB), O. Leblanc (CAP), J. Pelletier (SHE) |
| Hardest road arena to play in |
| 1st Gatineau Olympiques |
| T-2nd Val-d’Or, Rouyn-Noranda |
| Which team will win the league? |
| 1st Saint John Sea Dogs |
| 2nd Shawinigan Cataractes |
| 3rd Rouyn-Noranda Huskies |
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| Which team will surprise the most? |
| 1st Drummondville Voltigeurs |
| T-2nd CHI, MON, VIC, CB, SHE |
| Which team (except your own and Windsor) is the Memorial Cup favourite? |
| 1st London Knights |
| 2nd Shawinigan Cataractes |
| T-3rd Rouyn Noranda, Saint John |
Even the QMJHL coaches believe the London Knights are the team to beat in the CHL this season. (Jeff McIntosh/CP)
