QMJHL PREDICTIONS: Remparts, Olympiques, Mooseheads top contenders this season

The QMJHL season starts on Thursday. Shawinigan Cataractes and Gatineau Olympiques play the first game. Remparts, Olympique and Mooseheads are the top contenders to win the league in 2022-23.

Patrick Roy is the head coach/general manager of the Quebec Remparts. He has the most potent collection of elite players in the league.

Olivier Nadeau will miss the first chunk of the season with an injury. Mannix Landry, Zachary Dean, Bobby Orr, Tristan Luneau, Isaac Belliveau and Noah Warren will pick up the slack.

Zachary L'Heureux, Cam Whynot, Jordan Dumais and Mathieu Cataford are some of the blue-chip pieces in place for a turn at the top of a cycle.

Joshua Roy and Ethan Gauthier are the top two players for Sherbrooke Phoenix.

Patrick Guay turned pro after being acquired from the Charlottetown Islanders. Josh Lawrence and Zach Biggar came to Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in the off-season.

Drummondville Voltigeurs are counting on their first-rounders from 2020 and 2021 to push them up another level. Oscar Plandwoski will help Drummondille's blue line.

Luke Coughlin is injured for the first half of the season. Rimouski Oceanic has six first-round draft picks from the past two drafts. Luka Verreault, William Dumoulin, Frederic Brunet, Patrik Hamrla and Jacob Mathieu are important veterans.

Val-d'Or Foreurs will be better this season but they are not over the hump yet. Justin Robidas is on the verge of being a superstar and Nathan Drapeau is a nice addition to the defence.

Moncton Wildcats are a team that should make steady strides this year. The team is not littered with big names but coach Daniel Lacroix can get the best out of his players.

Baie-Comeau Drakkar drafted four cornerstone players over the past two years and added elite import Matyas Melovsky in July.

Chicoutimi Sagueneens are rebuilding this season. Remparts, Olympiques and Mooseheads are the top contenders.

Sylvain Couturier overhauled the roster of Cape Breton Eagles. Tomas Lavoie, William Shields and Thomas Desruisseaux were all first-round draft picks this year. Head coach Jon Goyens has an excellent reputation as a builder and teacher.

Charlottetown Islanders have the best cumulative record in the league over the past five years. Jim Hulton has a knack for finding and polishing diamonds in a rough diamond.

Bathurst Titan's roster took a beating last year. Management went all in to win the President Cup in 2021-22. Remparts, Olympiques and Mooseheads are the top contenders this season.

Bill Zonnon, Daniil Bourash and Jakub Hujer are rising stars for Rouyn-Noranda Huskies.

Shawinigan Cataractes won the QMJJHL title last year. Remparts, Olympiques and Mooseheads are the top contenders this season.

Victoriaville Tigres are not a team to watch this season. Remparts, Olympiques and Mooseheads are the top contenders. Gabriel D'Aigle is an exciting goalie prospect.

Remparts, Olympiques and Mooseheads are the top contenders in the QMJHL this season. Saint John Sea Dogs are rebuilding after winning the Memorial Cup last season and have a lot of holdover players.