Prospect expert Ryan Kennedy consulted with a gang of insiders to bring you power rankings for every team in the circuit, plus a player to watch on each squad for the upcoming season.
Quebec League preview: Who will rule in 2014-15The Quebec League is the first of the CHL's three circuits to enter regular season play and festivities officially kick off on Wednesday when Rouyn-Noranda visits the defending champions from Val-d'Or. But there is always a lot of turnover in junior and the Foreurs would be a big surprise to repeat. Who will represent the 'Q' at the Memorial Cup this year? One team will be the host Quebec Remparts, but another slot is up for grabs. I consulted with a crew of experts from the region to put together power rankings for the league, then added one name to know for each team:
1. Rimouski Oceanic - One to watch: Towering and intimidating defenseman Samuel Morin was a Philadelphia Flyers' first-rounder in 2013.
2. Cape Breton Screaming Eagles - Draft-eligible import Evgeny Svechnikov is a big and talented Russian winger.
3. Gatineau Olympiques - Draft-eligible defenseman Alexandre Carrier has nice mobility and put up decent offensive totals last season.
4. Quebec Remparts - Speedy and skilled Anthony Duclair is a New York Rangers pick who will do great damage for the Memorial Cup hosts.
5. Chicoutimi Sagueneens - Draft-eligible center Nicolas Roy has great size at 6-foot-4, 202 pounds, plus he moves well and has a great mind for the game.
6. Halifax Mooseheads - Winnipeg Jets first-rounder Nikolaj Ehlers won't likely have Jonathan Drouin around, so the offensively gifted Dane will be front and center now.
7. Charlottetown Islanders - Draft-eligible right winger Daniel Sprong is an offensive wizard who plays with drive and is a rare prospect: He was born and raised in Amsterdam.
8. Moncton Wildcats - St. Louis Blues second-rounder Ivan Barbashev is back with his physical, 200-foot game and playmaking prowess.
9. Baie-Comeau Drakkar - Montreal Canadiens prospect Jeremy Gregoire is a dogged and determined right winger who can put points on the board.
10. Sherbrooke Phoenix - Draft-eligible defenseman Jeremy Roy plays a two-way game and won gold with Canada at the Ivan Hlinka tournament this summer.
11. Shawinigan Cataractes - Draft-eligible left winger Dennis Yan is a Russian import by way of Portland, Ore. He's a smart offensive player who can really light it up.
12. Blainville-Boisbriand Armada - New York Rangers pick Daniel Walcott is a late-bloomer defenseman who holds his own at both ends of the ice.
13. Val-d'Or Foreurs - Philadelphia Flyers pick Nicolas Aube-Kubel is a talented, driven right winger who will take over the top-line spot abdicated by Anthony Mantha.
14. Acadie-Bathurst Titan - Draft-eligible defenseman Guillaume Brisebois has a lot of upside thanks to his 6-foot-2 frame, his mobility and puck skills.
15. Saint John Sea Dogs - Draft-eligible blueliner Jakub Zboril is big, smart and can do a lot on the ice. He helped the Czechs to silver at the Ivan Hlinka tourney.
16. Victoriaville Tigres - Arizona Coyotes prospect Pavel Laplante plays physical and can put the puck in the net from the left wing.
17. Rouyn-Noranda Huskies - Ottawa Senators pick Francis Perron is a talented left winger on the rise who can quarterback a power play.
18. Drummondville Voltigeurs - Draft-eligible center Alex Barre-Boulet is a pint-sized prospect who tore up the pre-season for the Volts.