Quick, who’s the best player in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League?

Hint: You didn’t see him wearing black and gold on Colisee ice Friday night.

But if you believe Ed Harding, you did see him play on Colisee ice Friday night.

“Say whatever you want about Stef Chaput, they made a mistake with the ADT Challenge,” the Maineiacs’ skipper said after Friday’s win. “I could make an argument that he’s the best player in the league right now, with his speed, his grit. He’s the best two-way player in the league, no question.”

Harding’s words, not mine.

It’s any coach’s job to stick up for his players, to push for their advancement in any way possible. Harding is doing just that, trying to get the league to take notice of one of the more underrated forwards in the league (my words, not Harding’s).

But in terms of pure talent, Harding got me thinking: Who is the league’s best player?

There are plenty of people from the Eastern Division who will make a case for Jakub Voracek of Halifax, who in fewer games than most has nearly eclipsed the rest of the league in scoring. He was stuck in the same quandary with Columbus that David Perron was in St. Louis, being a 19-year-old who is ineligible for the AHL.

Columbus sent him back. Perron stuck. Voracek is now torching the competition in the QMJHL. Perron is now battling NHL-types.

If Perron had stuck around, there would be one heck of a scoring race this season.

So Voracek, he’s one candidate.

Brad Marchand of Val d’Or is certainly up there in terms of pure, raw talent. He’s a Boston Bruins’ draft choice and has been to two league finals, has won a President’s Cup and was the runner-up in the Memorial Cup with Moncton in 2006.

But Harding and the Maineiacs proved Friday – and last year in the playoffs – that he can be silenced.

Claude Giroux of Gatineau obviously deserves mention here, too, even though most people reading this couldn’t pick him out of a two-person lineup. Giroux was a member of the same Canadian junior team as Marc-Andre Cliche last year. He’s a great all-around talent, and will look great with Daniel Briere and Kevin Marshall in Philadelphia someday.

Mathieu Perreault of Bathurst would have made most lists last season, but whether hindered by missing linemates or a poor team overall, Perreault isn’t making nearly the waves he was last season. He is among the league-leaders in points, but he’s not nearly the force he was last season.

Chris DiDomenico of the Saint John Sea Dogs deserves to be on the list, too. He beat out Perron last season to make the league’s all-rookie team (OK, so technically Voracek beat out Perron positionally), and he’s proving that there will be no sophomore slump, marking 37 points in 25 games so far.

There’s the short list.

Where does Stefan Chaput rank among these talented players?

If you want to talk about points, nowhere close. Chaput has 26 points in 23 games through Saturday, nearly 20 fewer than the league leaders Giroux (44) and Voracek (43).

But you have to figure in intangibles.

Chaput makes everyone on the ice around him better, even Stefano Giliati, who in his own right has the potential to be on this list. Chaput’s three points Friday illustrated three different aspects of his game. The goal, on a sweet feed from Giliati, showcased his ability to finish. His assist on Marshall’s goal showed an on-ice awareness in transition, and his assist to Danick Paquette was a classic playmaker’s goal on a 2-on-1 feed across the top of the crease.

So back to the question: Is Harding right? Is Stefan Chaput the best two-way player in the league?

The short answer: No, but he’s close. And Harding is right in one sense. You can make that case.

“I would put him out there against anybody,” Harding said. “He probably should have been at the ADT Challenge. He could have helped that team.”

The Carolina Hurricanes took a chance on Chaput late in the draft in 2006. They are going to be mighty happy with that choice in 2009 and beyond.