Tell me why Carbonneau can't be a center

[Galatians221jb1]

Everything that I read about his skill set is that he loves to rush the puck and deke around the defense and wants to carry the puck. The downside, I've read is that he loses the puck sometimes through his aggressiveness. I remember Ron Caron at practice telling me that Cliff Ronning held the puck too much and got himself in trouble. I get that he's not a center but don't understand why. Here's an example of what I'm seeing. This is in today's PD

Writing for Elite Prospects, Hadi Kalakeche, raved about him:

The 6’1” winger oozes dynamism out of every pore — quick changes of direction and speed, creative dangles in full stride, a hard, versatile, and accurate release, and some phenomenal playmaking flashes make him a true triple-threat attacker.

[STL fan in MN]

Everything that I read about his skill set is that he loves to rush the puck and deke around the defense and wants to carry the puck. The downside, I've read is that he loses the puck sometimes through his aggressiveness. I remember Ron Caron at practice telling me that Cliff Ronning held the puck too much and got himself in trouble. I get that he's not a center but don't understand why. Here's an example of what I'm seeing. This is in today's PD

Writing for Elite Prospects, Hadi Kalakeche, raved about him:

The 6’1” winger oozes dynamism out of every pore — quick changes of direction and speed, creative dangles in full stride, a hard, versatile, and accurate release, and some phenomenal playmaking flashes make him a true triple-threat attacker.

What do any of those things have to do with playing center?

To me, his main weakness is his hockey sense. He can definitely get way too tunnel visioned and not see playmaking opportunities many other players tend to see. The center is basically the general in terms of offensive distribution and defensive coverage. It takes good hockey sense to be able to do both of those things well. With hockey sense being Carbo’s main weakness, I’m not surprised at all he was moved to wing a while ago and see no reason to try him again at C.

Faceoffs would be another key aspect to being a center. Carbonneau doesn’t take a lot of them since he’s been playing wing so can’t really say how he’d do there but it’s a moot point IMO.

[Sweetred95ta]

Based on your reasoning, why can't Kyrou be a center?

Center is the hardest position on the ice. That's why the good ones are so valuable. To put up points in the offensive zone and still be able to take care of the defensive side of the ice takes a special player. Carbonneau, from what I've seen, looks more like a winger. He's a guy you want to feed the puck to and let him do his thing.

[BalotelliMassive]

The majority of players that played center their entire career rarely stick at C in the NHL....

[seattleblue]

You could play him at center because it’s within the rules but he is not a natural distributor. He’s got a finisher’s mentality all day long

[Harry S Deals]

Based on your reasoning, why can't Kyrou be a center?

Center is the hardest position on the ice. That's why the good ones are so valuable. To put up points in the offensive zone and still be able to take care of the defensive side of the ice takes a special player. Carbonneau, from what I've seen, looks more like a winger. He's a guy you want to feed the puck to and let him do his thing.

Wasnt Kyrou a center in juniours? Thought for sure i saw that

[STL fan in MN]

Based on your reasoning, why can't Kyrou be a center?

Center is the hardest position on the ice. That's why the good ones are so valuable. To put up points in the offensive zone and still be able to take care of the defensive side of the ice takes a special player. Carbonneau, from what I've seen, looks more like a winger. He's a guy you want to feed the puck to and let him do his thing.

Wasnt Kyrou a center in juniours? Thought for sure i saw that

Maybe at 16 but not any later than that.

Just about every elite forward played center growing up as that’s where you put your best players and that’s where the best players want to be. But as you keep moving up levels, not everyone can play C and some get pushed to the wing for one reason or another. Both Kyrou and Carbonneau got pushed to wing pretty early on.

[kimzey59]

You could play him at center because it’s within the rules but he is not a natural distributor. He’s got a finisher’s mentality all day long

JMO but that means absolutely nothing in today's game. There are plenty of centers in the League that are well below average distributors(Brock Nelson, Thompson, Bennett, Horvat, Hertl, Suter, Schenn to name a few).

It's defense that separates the positions anymore, not passing ability or on-ice vision.
Carbonneau isn't likely to play center because he's barely average as a defensive winger. He hasn't shown the defensive game to play center even at the Jr level and it's incredibly unlikely that he improves enough in that area to shift positions at the NHL level.

[seattleblue]

You could play him at center because it’s within the rules but he is not a natural distributor. He’s got a finisher’s mentality all day long

JMO but that means absolutely nothing in today's game. There are plenty of centers in the League that are well below average distributors(Brock Nelson, Thompson, Bennett, Horvat, Hertl, Suter, Schenn to name a few).

It's defense that separates the positions anymore, not passing ability or on-ice vision.
Carbonneau isn't likely to play center because he's barely average as a defensive winger. He hasn't shown the defensive game to play center even at the Jr level and it's incredibly unlikely that he improves enough in that area to shift positions at the NHL level.

It’s a fair point. Stancl may be more naturally suited to wing but he thinks the game and is responsible enough defensively to be a center. Justin Carbonneau is not the same as Guy Carbonneau

[TheSolution]

Everything that I read about his skill set is that he loves to rush the puck and deke around the defense and wants to carry the puck. The downside, I've read is that he loses the puck sometimes through his aggressiveness. I remember Ron Caron at practice telling me that Cliff Ronning held the puck too much and got himself in trouble. I get that he's not a center but don't understand why. Here's an example of what I'm seeing. This is in today's PD

Writing for Elite Prospects, Hadi Kalakeche, raved about him:

The 6’1” winger oozes dynamism out of every pore — quick changes of direction and speed, creative dangles in full stride, a hard, versatile, and accurate release, and some phenomenal playmaking flashes make him a true triple-threat attacker.

It’s amazing how the sport of hockey can fool so many people, even those who ‘played’ a little hockey, into thinking they have not only a clue but actual understanding of the game.

What you wrote has nothing to do with playing center

[a smell of green grass]

I believe that nearly 100% of the Centers in the NHL were Centers since they were born. It's not a skill you can develop to large degree.

Further, any young man with a glint of hope to play Center, calls themself a Center. Carbonneau has never played Center.

So to answer your question...

Carbonneau can't be a Center because he has told everyone that he is not a Center--long ago, and he knows better than anyone.

[TAFKAP]

Everything that I read about his skill set is that he loves to rush the puck and deke around the defense and wants to carry the puck. The downside, I've read is that he loses the puck sometimes through his aggressiveness. I remember Ron Caron at practice telling me that Cliff Ronning held the puck too much and got himself in trouble. I get that he's not a center but don't understand why. Here's an example of what I'm seeing. This is in today's PD

Writing for Elite Prospects, Hadi Kalakeche, raved about him:

The 6’1” winger oozes dynamism out of every pore — quick changes of direction and speed, creative dangles in full stride, a hard, versatile, and accurate release, and some phenomenal playmaking flashes make him a true triple-threat attacker.

It’s amazing how the sport of hockey can fool so many people, even those who ‘played’ a little hockey, into thinking they have not only a clue but actual understanding of the game.

What you wrote has nothing to do with playing center

Well the Blues brass was fooled into thinking Buch could play center......oof

[Mr.Snuggleupagus]

Well the Blues brass was fooled into thinking Buch could play center......oof

They weren't fooled; they just gave it a shot, out of necessity.

[TheSolution]

Everything that I read about his skill set is that he loves to rush the puck and deke around the defense and wants to carry the puck. The downside, I've read is that he loses the puck sometimes through his aggressiveness. I remember Ron Caron at practice telling me that Cliff Ronning held the puck too much and got himself in trouble. I get that he's not a center but don't understand why. Here's an example of what I'm seeing. This is in today's PD

Writing for Elite Prospects, Hadi Kalakeche, raved about him:

The 6’1” winger oozes dynamism out of every pore — quick changes of direction and speed, creative dangles in full stride, a hard, versatile, and accurate release, and some phenomenal playmaking flashes make him a true triple-threat attacker.

It’s amazing how the sport of hockey can fool so many people, even those who ‘played’ a little hockey, into thinking they have not only a clue but actual understanding of the game.

What you wrote has nothing to do with playing center

Well the Blues brass was fooled into thinking Buch could play center......oof

This is an example of having a low iq

Nothing in the OP makes any sense in regard to playing center.

That has nothing to do with whether or not every decision regarding moving someone to center will work out.

[Red7]

How much center had David Backes played before being moved there? I always preferred him at RW.

[Galatians221jb1]

Everything that I read about his skill set is that he loves to rush the puck and deke around the defense and wants to carry the puck. The downside, I've read is that he loses the puck sometimes through his aggressiveness. I remember Ron Caron at practice telling me that Cliff Ronning held the puck too much and got himself in trouble. I get that he's not a center but don't understand why. Here's an example of what I'm seeing. This is in today's PD

Writing for Elite Prospects, Hadi Kalakeche, raved about him:

The 6’1” winger oozes dynamism out of every pore — quick changes of direction and speed, creative dangles in full stride, a hard, versatile, and accurate release, and some phenomenal playmaking flashes make him a true triple-threat attacker.

It’s amazing how the sport of hockey can fool so many people, even those who ‘played’ a little hockey, into thinking they have not only a clue but actual understanding of the game.

What you wrote has nothing to do with playing center

Well the Blues brass was fooled into thinking Buch could play center......oof

This is an example of having a low iq

Nothing in the OP makes any sense in regard to playing center.

That has nothing to do with whether or not every decision regarding moving someone to center will work out.

My OP was a question based on published remarks. I was asking to be educated. Not advocating anything