Carbonneau Working on D: "Fudge the goals"

[John Cocktoastin]

The non-Canada selection is making him work harder. Blessing in disguise. Good for him. Keep it up.

“I could say, ‘Oh, I score goals. I hit. Everything is perfect.’ But I don’t think it is. I just turned 19 years old, and no one’s perfect at 19, but I have a lot to work on as a player and also as a leader. My D game needs to be more consistent, and that’s what’s going to make me play in the NHL sooner than later.”

“My role was to score goals and create offense because we were a young team,” Carbonneau said. “My game got defined as, ‘You’re going to score goals for us.’ Which is good, but when you want to win a championship and you want to go to the Memorial Cup, you can’t win just by scoring.”

“Scoring goals is not my priority right now. I don’t want to say the word, so I’ll say, ‘Fudge the goals and take care of the details.’ When (the Blues) were here, it was a good example of why my mindset needs to keep improving.”

“The thing I’m most proud of is the player I’m going to be at the end of the year, and I appreciate my coaches and teammates keeping me grounded with things that I have to work on. If I’m consistent in my details, not only will I have a chance to help (Armada) win this year, but I’ll also have a chance to play pro next year with the Blues.”

[netboy65]

Yippie! He’ll be a 3rd line grinder in no time!

[Pierre McGuire]

Yippie! He’ll be a 3rd line grinder in no time!

Whatever he turns out to be , I see him as a future whipping boy here. He’s a goal scorer, he’s never going to be a defensive stalwart…that won’t fly over well here on blues talk. I mean why would we want a goal scorer to focus on scoring goals. Hitch…as much as I loved him, did a lot of damage here

[Harry York 37]

That almost brings tears to my eyes... He will be a blessing, sooner rather than later.

You do NOT win championships playing the "Other way".

Hey #25! Yeah...you, on IR.....can to read something for us?
Thanks.

[netboy65]

Yippie! He’ll be a 3rd line grinder in no time!

Whatever he turns out to be , I see him as a future whipping boy here. He’s a goal scorer, he’s never going to be a defensive stalwart…that won’t fly over well here on blues talk. I mean why would we want a goal scorer to focus on scoring goals. Hitch…as much as I loved him, did a lot of damage here

This team and town were like that long before Hitch got here. Who cares if you produce, so long as you ‘try super-duper hard’

[Harry York 37]

Yippie! He’ll be a 3rd line grinder in no time!

Whatever he turns out to be , I see him as a future whipping boy here. He’s a goal scorer, he’s never going to be a defensive stalwart…that won’t fly over well here on blues talk. I mean why would we want a goal scorer to focus on scoring goals. Hitch…as much as I loved him, did a lot of damage here

This team and town were like that long before Hitch got here. Who cares if you produce, so long as you ‘try super-duper hard’

I think we prefer losing a hard-fought and well-played game, rather than losing a high scoring game played like an All-Star Game.
We only one one Cup... and EVERYONE hit when it was called for.... and ALL took care of the f#(bleep) Defense.

[netboy65]

Yippie! He’ll be a 3rd line grinder in no time!

Whatever he turns out to be , I see him as a future whipping boy here. He’s a goal scorer, he’s never going to be a defensive stalwart…that won’t fly over well here on blues talk. I mean why would we want a goal scorer to focus on scoring goals. Hitch…as much as I loved him, did a lot of damage here

This team and town were like that long before Hitch got here. Who cares if you produce, so long as you ‘try super-duper hard’

I think we prefer losing a hard-fought and well-played game, rather than losing a high scoring game played like an All-Star Game.
We only one one Cup... and EVERYONE hit when it was called for.... and ALL took care of the f#(bleep) Defense.

Personally I prefer winning games. But that’s just me.

[DawgDad]

You guys, sheesh. To quote Carbonneau, who gives a "Fudge" what Blues Talk thinks. He's right about what he needs to do but it's likely harder [bigger leap] than he thinks.

[John Cocktoastin]

Not sure why him being tasked with: "You’re going to score goals for us" is somehow a negative on him.

The dude is built for a power forward game, his mind is wired that way and he can score. Now, he knows he needs to help defensively to take his game to another level. To the next level. It's a good thing.

It's progression and growth.

[PPG]

Ya know- any hard working, coachable, conscientious hockey player can learn to be responsible in the defensive zone.
You simply cannot TEACH someone to score goals.
Either you can or you can't....
He sounds like he's saying and doing the right things.

I'm still shocked that he wasn't deemed good enough to play for Canada in the World Juniors.

[Pierre McGuire]

Ya know- any hard working, coachable, conscientious hockey player can learn to be responsible in the defensive zone.
You simply cannot TEACH someone to score goals.
Either you can or you can't....
He sounds like he's saying and doing the right things.

I'm still shocked that he wasn't deemed good enough to play for Canada in the World Juniors.

That’s a stacked Canada roster. He’s still behind a few of the guys that didn’t even make it

[Old_Goat]

Sounds like someone with a good attitude. He recognizes that he has areas to work on and is willing to work on to improve and be a better, well-rounded, overall player. It indicates that he is willing to accept guidance and criticism from his coaches, without pouting nor sulking nor giving up. That's an important sign of maturity...which takes more than just physical development.
Many get frustrated with a player whom can skate like the wind stickhandle and shoot with accuracy, but not hustle away from the puck; or they can get frustrated with a defensibly responsible player, whom cannot score. And then you get a young man, whom is truly interested to not just rely upon his natural skill, but to work to get better in all areas...and of course that is now also frustrating to folks??

[mph6689new]

Sounds like someone with a good attitude. He recognizes that he has areas to work on and is willing to work on to improve and be a better, well-rounded, overall player. It indicates that he is willing to accept guidance and criticism from his coaches, without pouting nor sulking nor giving up. That's an important sign of maturity...which takes more than just physical development.
Many get frustrated with a player whom can skate like the wind stickhandle and shoot with accuracy, but not hustle away from the puck; or they can get frustrated with a defensibly responsible player, whom cannot score. And then you get a young man, whom is truly interested to not just rely upon his natural skill, but to work to get better in all areas...and of course that is now also frustrating to folks??

Very good that a player recognizes the need to improve in areas. No need to become Datsyuk, but can’t win as Vrana either.

If he really is behind many of his peers (many Canadian players alone ahead of him at this age), how much impact can he really have making the Blues a contender with skill alone? He needs to be a more complete player.

Seems like the modern NHL needs a team of players on the same page to get a cut above the rest. Best players alone have marginal increase in results vs. a group of players playing the role needed. So, having a future skill player be amenable to focusing on other elements is a good sign.

[LGB73]

I hate it when our prospects try to be complete players. I much prefer players who are one dimensional liabilities to the team when they're on the ice.

[PregnantNun]

He scored 89 points in 62 games last year and has 38 points in 27 games this year. And he's working on his defense. Good for him. As long as he doesn't suddenly fall under a ppg because he got turned into a 3rd line grinder, as someone put it, I think it's great. His quotes show confidence and humility as well. Sounds like a good character guy.

[seattleblue]

Best thing I have read related to the Blues in awhile.

You know I coveted Carbo for his ability, not only does he have something you cannot teach, he has something you cannot unteach. He is saying "F the aspect I have on lockdown ... BECAUSE I WILL ALWAYS HAVE IT ... "

He utterly needed this shift of attention. This is exactly what we all want to see, EXTRA DIMENSIONS. He isn't going to lose the goal scoring, you can't take it out of him, it's a given. Extra dimensions aren't coming at the expense of goal scoring with Carbo.

He has powerful attention. He's saying: "I am a competitor first and foremost. The most efficient thing to do was assign me goal scoring because anything I'm assigned I will do, to win."