Carbonneau back to Armada :o

[Unfathomable]

2025 first-round pick (19th overall) Justin Carbonneau has decided to return to Blainville-Boisbriand Armada and play in the QMJHL next season. #stlblues

Maybe he thinks he can make this team in camp.. Don't really see much he has to prove there. Was thinking he was leaning the college route.

https://x.com/lkorac10/status/194373526 ... 9RqDQ&s=19

[MiamiLaw]

2025 first-round pick (19th overall) Justin Carbonneau has decided to return to Blainville-Boisbriand Armada and play in the QMJHL next season. #stlblues

Maybe he thinks he can make this team in camp.. Don't really see much he has to prove there. Was thinking he was leaning the college route.

https://x.com/lkorac10/status/194373526 ... 9RqDQ&s=19

Yea to me this is an indication that he thinks he has a shot to play in the NHL this year. Could be wrong but that would be the main reason to do this.

[zamadoo]

I was kind of hoping he would choose this route.

He mentioned being on a winning team, and I do think that's important and worth the experience.

How far off is he from the NHL? (could he crack at least a trial this season?) - Would he really be better off going to college for 1-2 years with fewer games and all the classes/homework (plus just the moving and getting to know a new organization) rather than the leadership experience on a winning Q team for 1 season before going pro for sure next season (or AHL after Jr season ends)?

[Sweetred95ta]

Has to be for his chance to make the Blues roster out of camp. Because he was drafted while in the QMJHL and he's only 18 years old, he's too young to go to the AHL. The highlight videos of him playing in the Q make him look like McDavid. That level is too easy for him. IMHO, he needed to go the college route and get used to playing against stronger competition.

[John Cocktoastin]

According to this quote, Army and Monty are going to have a tough decision...

And what’s interesting is that, listening to the GM talk, you have to believe that Carbonneau has a real chance of making the club to start the year :

I used to look at [Jim Montgomery] and say, “He’s going to make it hard for us, him.” – Doug Armstrong

[dhsux]

I'm not positive but I think I like seeing this.

The Q served Bolduc well and yes, it puts him a phone call away from the pro's. You can be called up from the Q, correct?

Pretty exciting having him in camp this summer.

[Old_Goat]

His quickest path to the NHL.
He is more physically developed and needs less fundamental work than Snuggerud did at that age. The college route was better for Snuggerud. The CHL Juniors was better for Thomas and Neighbours as well as for Carbonneau.

[Nublues69]

who watched him play in development camp.

Can he really make the jump to third line winger??? just curious

[seattleblue]

Not shocked at this. You could tell he was hesitant to go the college route. I think it's three things:

1. He genuinely hopes to make the team out of camp, and he's focused on it. Wouldn't you be if you thought there was a chance to get your dream this close? At that age you burn with it.

2. His Q team could end up in the Memorial Cup as its representative and he could lead them. It's a competitive situation. Then he plays WJC and aims to make the team next camp. I didn't have my thinking brain on the other day when MN pointed out that duh he loses his college eligibility if he's playing any preseason games for the Blues before being sent down (or the 9 game trial option obviously).

3. He does not want to write a term paper. He wants to score goals only, He wants to score them now. Don't talk to him about final exams.

[BalotelliMassive]

Maybe wait to see what he does at the prospect showcase before thinking he's going to be in the NHL....

Did this guy leapfrog your top five prospects or something?

[bluetunehead]

3. He does not want to write a term paper. He wants to score goals only, He wants to score them now. Don't talk to him about final exams.

[Harry S Deals]

9 game tryout incoming, puts pressure on other roster spots too. Would Joseph be the odd man out or Texier?

[sdaltons]

Yeah really only makes sense if he thinks he has a good shot to make the team out of camp on the tryout. Exciting!

[bluetunehead]

Maybe wait to see what he does at the prospect showcase before thinking he's going to be in the NHL....

Did this guy leapfrog your top five prospects or something?

Yeah I understand that he might seem NHL ready but the Blues have a number of prospects who are probably ready for their shot at at this stage. Are they really going to keep Carbonneau up straight out of the draft while Dvorsky spends another year in Springfield? I have a hard time seeing that.

I think he gets his 9-game trial but is probably headed back afterwards.

[STL fan in MN]

2025 first-round pick (19th overall) Justin Carbonneau has decided to return to Blainville-Boisbriand Armada and play in the QMJHL next season. #stlblues

Maybe he thinks he can make this team in camp.. Don't really see much he has to prove there. Was thinking he was leaning the college route.

https://x.com/lkorac10/status/194373526 ... 9RqDQ&s=19

Yea to me this is an indication that he thinks he has a shot to play in the NHL this year. Could be wrong but that would be the main reason to do this.

Nah. I’d guess the decision was more based on being able to attend training camp and getting his signing bonus money (I’m assuming the Blues will now sign him to a ELC pretty soon). He couldn’t have done either of those things now if he went the college route. His goal when he comes to camp should be to try to make the team but I’d say he’s got only slightly better than a snowball’s chance in hell of actually earning a spot.

Personally, I wanted him to go to BC. He’s very skilled but the critiques on his vision, playmaking, utilization of teammates is very justified IMO. He can get away with that sort of play in Jrs but he’d be an absolute turnover machine trying to consistently do that in the pros. College hockey, particularly the Big East conference which BC is in, is simply a higher level than the Q. He’s already pretty much dominated the Q. He’s going to be a 19 yr old who’s more physically developed than most of his peers in a league of 16-19 yr olds. I would’ve preferred he stretch his game more and play in college where the guys are more 18-24. Learn to play a more team game and against guys he doesn’t have the clear physical edge against. Would’ve been better for his development IMO.

That said, he should be fine in the Q. I don’t see it as some horrible decision that’s going to derail his career or anything. But my take is he’s taking the easier path to get $97.5k in his pocket much sooner, be able to attend NHL training camp and not have to fake his way through a year’s worth of college classes.

[Quas]

When Armstrong suggested that he could possibly make the team out of camp I knew this was coming. It won't hurt him to attend camp and hopefully he gets a chance to play in the WJC for Canada. I don't see how he beats out Joseph, Texier, Sunny, and Dvorsky in camp.