St. Louis Blues forward prospect and Quebec Remparts winger Maddox Dagenais delivered his first hat trick of the 2026-27 QMJHL season in a wild back and forth game Sunday afternoon to defeat the Chicoutimi Sagueneens 7-6.
The 18-year-old gave his team the lead late in the first period when he scored to make it 4-3. Then Dagenais took over in the second period scoring twice on the power play in the span of 24 seconds, pushing the lead to 7-4. One of those goals came from A tight angle near the goal line, which has become a bit of a calling card for the young forward. Chicoutimi Fought back in the third period and made it interesting, but Quebec held on for the win.
Building early momentum
Through six games, Dagenais has eight points on five goals and three assists. He opened the season with two goals and two assists in his first game back after the Blues camp in a 7-3 home-opening win over Shawinigan. While the early offense is encouraging, he will need to continue to find consistency to his game with seven of his eight points coming in two games.
Dagenais and his coaching staff should remain encouraged as the 18-year-old has put 31 shots on goals in those six games, averaging just over five per night with a 16 percent shooting rate. Last season, he scored 30 goals on 273 shots, closer to an 11 percent rate.
His 2025-26 season where he produced 30 goals and 62 points in 62 games became one of the larger factors in his draft stock rising to the 16th overall pick. If he continues to progress and develop the way many think he can, Dagenais could become a bit of a first-round steal for the Blues.
The player he could become
The 6-foot-4, roughly 196-pound winger has been pushed from the center position to the right wing and has continued to find consistency and success on the scoresheet. His shot has become a bit of a calling card scoring goals from mid and close-range, and awkward angles. He plays with enough physicality to create room for himself and his linemates and should continue to develop into a reliable two-way player.
The questions for him at this point in his young career are about consistency and translation from the QMJHL. Junior league defenders are a little slower and looser than the ones he will see at the pro level. A few big nights can help cover for quieter stretches in his season. He will need to find that consistency as he continues to be given top-line minutes to help lead his team.
If his development goes according to plan, Dagenais could become a top-six player with 20 or even 30 goal potential, but there is still a long way to go. Sunday was a good reminder of why the Blues drafted him where they did and what made him a first-round draft pick. The rest of the season will be on him to continue his development and show he can be relied upon each night.
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