Alumni: Creating the All-Time All-QMJHL Team

jacob titus

Mon, Aug 19, 2024, 10:00 a.m.·5 min read

The QMJHL has produced a lot of strong talent over the years -- more than it gets credit for nowadays.

That said, the QMJHL in it's earlier days was an absolute factory for Hall of Famers and superstars.

With that in mind, if I were to ice a 23-man roster of QMJHL alumni, regardless of whether they are active any more, this is what it would look like.

Now I'd like to make a couple caveats before showing the roster.

Like the previous exercise using just active players, which you can see below, I am not just going to place guys based on point production alone, but also considering intangibles and defensive game as well.

Unlike the previous list, the talent pool is so much greater that there will be a lesser emphasis on defensive game if necessary.

One last thing, since the idea of this team is that they would play, I will consider player's based on their peak.

Forwards

First Line

Luc Robitaille - Mario Lemieux - Mike Bossy

You can only dream of a team where the entire first line can score 60 goals in a season each. Well, unfortunately, this is a dream. Regardless, this line would be insane as it features the greatest pure goalscorer of the 20th century with the greatest power forward of all time in Lemieux. and an unreal support player in Luc Robitaille.

Second Line

Dale Hawerchuk - Sidney Crosby - Guy Lafleur

The second line is hardly a downgrade with the greatest player of the 21st Century so far, Sidney Crosby, centering a line of fellow Hall of Famers Dale Hawerchuk and Guy Lafleur.

Third Line

Pierre Turgeon - Pat Lafontaine - Nathan MacKinnon

The third line remains gilded with the likes of future Hall of Famer 2024 MVP Nathan MacKinnon, and current Hall of Famers five time all star nods Pierre Turgeon and Pat Lafontaine.

Fourth Line

Brad Richards - Denis Savard - Jimmy Carson

The undeniable Denis Savard centers a line of two nearly forgotten stars. Jimmy Carson is a former two time 50+ goal scorer and two time 100 point producer who was only the second teenager, behind Gretzky to light the lamp 50 times in a season. Meanwhile, Brad Richards wasn't just a beast in the Lightning's run to the playoffs in 2004, but hit over 90 points twice in 2006 and 2010, despite never scoring 30 goals in a season.

Defense

First Pair

Ray Bourque - Kevin Lowe

On one hand is one of the greatest defensemen to ever grace the sport in Ray Bourque. On the other is one the NHL's most winningest players and best defensive defensemen in Kevin Lowe. A pair that can't be beat.

Second Pair

Steve Duchense - Kris Letang

The second pair mixes old with new. Duchesne is one of the most underrated offensive defensemen of the late 80s and early 90s. Meanwhile, Kris Letang is a future hall of famer who excelled in all zones in his prime, and has a winning pedigree as he helped the Penguins win three cups in 2009, 2016 and 2017.

Third Pair

Marc-Eduard Vlasic - Eric Desjardins

These two do not get enough love. Marc-Eduard Vlasic was one of the most dominant shutdown defenders of the 2010s and Eric Desjardins who was the standout defenseman from the 1990s Flyers squad.

Goalies

Patrick Roy - Martin Brodeur

Patrick Roy is the definition of clutch. He may have a lesser regular season award profile than Martin Brodeur. matching his Jennings but with one less Vezina win, but most goalies can't even dream of winning the Conn Smythe, let alone three. Not to mention, the extra cup. Furthermore, he had a harder workload and started his career in a high scoring era.

It's easy to try and bring down Martin Brodeur's accomplishments when pointing out that he played behind one of the NHL's best defense corps. That said, there's some things that are objectively true. He's a three time cup winner, five time Jennings winner, four time Vezina winner and was tasked with playing 70+ games a season in the process. Even if he's not the number one option here, he's a worthy No. 2.

Extras

G Billy Smith

Billy Smith is the first and the hardest cut. Four time Stanley Cup winner (back-to-back), a Vezina, a Jennings and even a Conn Smythe. If not for the competition being so stiff, he would be a lock. Regardless, even if he's left of the ice, he's not a guy you can leave off the roster.

C Patrice Bergeron

Speaking of a tough omission, Patrice Bergeron. The only player who can challenge Bob Gainey for the mantle of the NHL's greatest defensive forward of all time, Bergeron was a force to be reckoned with in all three zones. Alongside, his elite three zone play, he brought tremendous leadership winning the King Clancy and the Mark Messier leadership trophies during his career. His offensive production just wasn't up to snuff, but he couldn't be omitted from the team any further. Having retired in 2023, he's not a Hall of Famer yet, but his day will come.

C Jeremy Roenick

Roenick only played one season in the QMJHL, having originally went the college route, but the season he played was insane. With Hull, he dropped 70 points in just 28 games and carried that momentum into his NHL career where he became a multiple time 50 goal and 100 point scorer, whilst being one of the toughest guys on the ice in an era of toughness.