Louis-Antoine Denault taken 217th overall caps a strong QMJHL showing at the draft table
The Newfoundland Regiment’s Louis-Antoine Denault has been selected by the Florida Panthers in the seventh round, 217th overall, of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. Denault becomes the latest Regiment prospect to earn his name on an NHL card, and the latest proof of the development path being built in St. John’s.
His selection came on a banner weekend for the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League, which saw 20 players chosen, its highest total since 2021, including 10 prospects ranked inside the NHL Draft’s Top 100 for the first time in five years. The run was led by first-rounders Maddox Dagenais of the Québec Remparts (16th overall, St. Louis Blues) and Tommy Bleyl of the Moncton Wildcats (31st, Nashville Predators).
Denault was one of just three QMJHL goaltenders selected in the 2026 Draft making his selection by the Panthers a notable nod to his development and his ceiling.
Denault arrived in St. John’s midway through the 2025-26 season, acquired by the Regiment from the Québec Remparts, and he raised his game immediately. In 25 regular-season starts for the Regiment he went 16-7-2 with a 2.69 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage, then carried the club through a 12-game playoff run, posting a 6-5-1 record, a 3.02 goals-against average and a .903 save percentage.
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