Carbonneau going down

[MooseCountry2025]

Carbonneau was on full beast mode last year in the Q. Not sure what’s going on it has left to offer the kid other then learning what pure dominance feels like.

[STL fan in MN]

I expect a big cut to be announced today. AHL camp opens tomorrow.

I hope you're right. I think it would be good for both groups. Guys like Mailloux and Snuggerud need a heavy dose of NHL level reps in practice.
I could see guys like Dvorsky, Stenberg, Stancl, and Skinner (that level) staying in StL longer though.

Still unsure if Jiricek goes back to Brantford he seems like hes beyond that level of play already. The grind of the AHL may take a toll on him but the Blues are really high on him. I dont think hes ready for the NHL this will be interesting to see how his development plays out. Is he the first RHD called up from Springfield if needed?

For me the problem is before now he was no where close to that, very difficult to make such a big decision based on such a small sample.

I’d send him back to Jrs. He’s missed a majority of his last 2 seasons. It’d be better for him to be Brantford’s #1, play 25+ min/night in all situations than try to struggle at the AHL level. I don’t see how he’s grown out of Jr. He scored all of 12 pts there last season. He has a lot of potential but he’s still young and has missed a lot of development time.

Skinner can and should be our top RD callup. Heck, he’s maybe looked better than Kessel anyway. Skinner was very good for Springfield last season. He was just a throw-in on the Tarasenko/Mikkola deal to the Rangers but he’s not bad. Won’t have a big career but he can play in this league as a #7-8 guy and not look out of place.

[STL fan in MN]

Carbonneau was on full beast mode last year in the Q. Not sure what’s going on it has left to offer the kid other then learning what pure dominance feels like.

He needs to make sure he’s working on the details of his game and not just racking up points. We know he’s talented and can score at that level. This is why I preferred he go the NCAA route as he would’ve been forced to play a bit more of a pro style of game. He doesn’t have to to be successful in Jrs but he seems like a dedicated kid. I bet he does a good job of working on what the Blues tell him to.

[moose-and-squirrel]

Carbonneau was on full beast mode last year in the Q. Not sure what’s going on it has left to offer the kid other then learning what pure dominance feels like.

He needs to make sure he’s working on the details of his game and not just racking up points. We know he’s talented and can score at that level. This is why I preferred he go the NCAA route as he would’ve been forced to play a bit more of a pro style of game. He doesn’t have to to be successful in Jrs but he seems like a dedicated kid. I bet he does a good job of working on what the Blues tell him to.

isn't he eligible to be called up from Jr's and not from college? If so, prolly a reason why he chose that route

[MooseCountry2025]

Carbonneau was on full beast mode last year in the Q. Not sure what’s going on it has left to offer the kid other then learning what pure dominance feels like.

He needs to make sure he’s working on the details of his game and not just racking up points. We know he’s talented and can score at that level. This is why I preferred he go the NCAA route as he would’ve been forced to play a bit more of a pro style of game. He doesn’t have to to be successful in Jrs but he seems like a dedicated kid. I bet he does a good job of working on what the Blues tell him to.

He needs to learn what it feels like playing against physically mature competition. He won’t get that in the Q. NCAA would have been more ideal as far as Blues are concerned. Of course that’s just my opinion and time will tell but I’ve saw a few big kids learn to rely on size and didn’t adjust as well as they could have. One guy that comes to mind, Raphael Lavoie. Was shocked when Edmonton took him so high and think he won’t ever realize his potential . Don’t see that with Carbonneau as much but still like to see him challenged before landing on the big stage.

[skilles]

I expect a big cut to be announced today. AHL camp opens tomorrow.

I hope you're right. I think it would be good for both groups. Guys like Mailloux and Snuggerud need a heavy dose of NHL level reps in practice.
I could see guys like Dvorsky, Stenberg, Stancl, and Skinner (that level) staying in StL longer though.

Still unsure if Jiricek goes back to Brantford he seems like hes beyond that level of play already. The grind of the AHL may take a toll on him but the Blues are really high on him. I dont think hes ready for the NHL this will be interesting to see how his development plays out. Is he the first RHD called up from Springfield if needed?

For me the problem is before now he was no where close to that, very difficult to make such a big decision based on such a small sample.

I’d send him back to Jrs. He’s missed a majority of his last 2 seasons. It’d be better for him to be Brantford’s #1, play 25+ min/night in all situations than try to struggle at the AHL level. I don’t see how he’s grown out of Jr. He scored all of 12 pts there last season. He has a lot of potential but he’s still young and has missed a lot of development time.

Skinner can and should be our top RD callup. Heck, he’s maybe looked better than Kessel anyway. Skinner was very good for Springfield last season. He was just a throw-in on the Tarasenko/Mikkola deal to the Rangers but he’s not bad. Won’t have a big career but he can play in this league as a #7-8 guy and not look out of place.

Agreed, had he made a smooth steady long term transition to how he is playing now it would be a different story but thats not the case. Maybe he goes to JRs and proves you wrong but that will be a good problem to have.

[skilles]

Carbonneau was on full beast mode last year in the Q. Not sure what’s going on it has left to offer the kid other then learning what pure dominance feels like.

He needs to make sure he’s working on the details of his game and not just racking up points. We know he’s talented and can score at that level. This is why I preferred he go the NCAA route as he would’ve been forced to play a bit more of a pro style of game. He doesn’t have to to be successful in Jrs but he seems like a dedicated kid. I bet he does a good job of working on what the Blues tell him to.

He needs to learn what it feels like playing against physically mature competition. He won’t get that in the Q. NCAA would have been more ideal as far as Blues are concerned. Of course that’s just my opinion and time will tell but I’ve saw a few big kids learn to rely on size and didn’t adjust as well as they could have. One guy that comes to mind, Raphael Lavoie. Was shocked when Edmonton took him so high and think he won’t ever realize his potential . Don’t see that with Carbonneau as much but still like to see him challenged before landing on the big stage.

First he need to be a Physically mature player.

[STL fan in MN]

Carbonneau was on full beast mode last year in the Q. Not sure what’s going on it has left to offer the kid other then learning what pure dominance feels like.

He needs to make sure he’s working on the details of his game and not just racking up points. We know he’s talented and can score at that level. This is why I preferred he go the NCAA route as he would’ve been forced to play a bit more of a pro style of game. He doesn’t have to to be successful in Jrs but he seems like a dedicated kid. I bet he does a good job of working on what the Blues tell him to.

isn't he eligible to be called up from Jr's and not from college? If so, prolly a reason why he chose that route

No, not really. Once he’s assigned to his Jr team, he’s with them for the entire season. He’d be eligible to join the AHL (or NHL too I suppose) once his OHL season is over…but Brantford is expected to go far so good chance his OHL season lasts longer than the T-birds season anyway.

The benefit in terms of the NHL was being able to attend camp. He wouldn’t have been able to attend camp as a college player…I guess?? Idk the rules anymore. They seem to change by the day. None of the Blues prospects going the college route were in camp this year but Caleb Heil, a USHL goalie that’ll be going the college route attended the Lightning’s camp and somehow maintained his college eligibility so idk anymore.

Theoretically, a player could leave his college team and turn pro at any time but by and large, it would’ve worked the same way - he would’ve stayed with his college team (BC is who he sorta committed to) until their season ended and then could’ve joined the T-birds once their season was over.

[STL fan in MN]

I expect a big cut to be announced today. AHL camp opens tomorrow.

I hope you're right. I think it would be good for both groups. Guys like Mailloux and Snuggerud need a heavy dose of NHL level reps in practice.
I could see guys like Dvorsky, Stenberg, Stancl, and Skinner (that level) staying in StL longer though.

Still unsure if Jiricek goes back to Brantford he seems like hes beyond that level of play already. The grind of the AHL may take a toll on him but the Blues are really high on him. I dont think hes ready for the NHL this will be interesting to see how his development plays out. Is he the first RHD called up from Springfield if needed?

For me the problem is before now he was no where close to that, very difficult to make such a big decision based on such a small sample.

I’d send him back to Jrs. He’s missed a majority of his last 2 seasons. It’d be better for him to be Brantford’s #1, play 25+ min/night in all situations than try to struggle at the AHL level. I don’t see how he’s grown out of Jr. He scored all of 12 pts there last season. He has a lot of potential but he’s still young and has missed a lot of development time.

Skinner can and should be our top RD callup. Heck, he’s maybe looked better than Kessel anyway. Skinner was very good for Springfield last season. He was just a throw-in on the Tarasenko/Mikkola deal to the Rangers but he’s not bad. Won’t have a big career but he can play in this league as a #7-8 guy and not look out of place.

Agreed, had he made a smooth steady long term transition to how he is playing now it would be a different story but thats not the case. Maybe he goes to JRs and proves you wrong but that will be a good problem to have.

Yep. If he had dominated Jrs last year and then performed well in this camp then I’d be more comfortable with him trying out the AHL. But his positioning was still a mess in Jrs last season, he got injured another 2-3 times (one clearly a concussion from getting rocked head first into the curved glass by the benches) and only put up 12 pts. And even though he’s added 25 lbs since we drafted him, he’s still only at 185 lbs. It could really set him back to have him turn pro IMO. Better safe than sorry.

[hockey jedi]

I think this is less of a reflection on Carboneau and more about not wanting to have your roster with 20% rookies.

[zamadoo]

I expect a big cut to be announced today. AHL camp opens tomorrow.

I hope you're right. I think it would be good for both groups. Guys like Mailloux and Snuggerud need a heavy dose of NHL level reps in practice.
I could see guys like Dvorsky, Stenberg, Stancl, and Skinner (that level) staying in StL longer though.

Still unsure if Jiricek goes back to Brantford he seems like hes beyond that level of play already. The grind of the AHL may take a toll on him but the Blues are really high on him. I dont think hes ready for the NHL this will be interesting to see how his development plays out. Is he the first RHD called up from Springfield if needed?

For me the problem is before now he was no where close to that, very difficult to make such a big decision based on such a small sample.

That's a good point, however I can't find any TOI or situational stats to know for sure. It seemed like he was somewhat relied upon by Team Czech, and I would estimate he was above 15min per game at the WJC, and likely about the same in the 27 regular and 9 playoff games for Brantford.

How much time he would get in Springfield? Wouldn't he be #1 RHD? I don't know anything about recently acquired 24 yo Johannesson, but I figure Jiricek could muster 15-20min a night if his competition is Skinner and Johannesson, with Kessel on the STL Bench. Is that load better than what we presume would be #1D 25min a night in all situations in the CHL?

Personally, I'm hoping he shows them enough that they want him in the AHL, but after what someone quoted Army saying recently about dominating vs struggling, I think that's more of a long shot.

[seattleblue]

There is no way they would make Jiricek the #1 D on Springfield right away if he went there, he is too raw for that still. But he could build confidence and more minutes throughout the year

[STL fan in MN]

How much time he would get in Springfield? Wouldn't he be #1 RHD?

Absolutely not. Jiricek would struggle to get 3rd pairing minutes IMO. The T-Birds already project to have 8 d-men at that level.

Schueneman
Skinner
Lindstein
Johannesson
Loof
Burns
Buchinger
Kehrer

Someone like Kehrer (free agent signed to a AHL contract out of U of Wisconsin) could pretty easily be sent to the ECHL but the other 7 they’ll want to get time. Jiricek would struggle to get time and anytime he got in the lineup then it’d mean someone like Burns maybe wasn’t.

The AHL is a BIG jump up from Jrs. I’d be shocked if even at the end of the season he’d be able to handle #1 or even 1st pairing duties.

[TBone]

He couldn’t make the big club instantly? Bust

Of course. He wasn't a Top 5 pick.

[zamadoo]

How much time he would get in Springfield? Wouldn't he be #1 RHD?

Absolutely not. Jiricek would struggle to get 3rd pairing minutes IMO. The T-Birds already project to have 8 d-men at that level.

Schueneman
Skinner
Lindstein
Johannesson
Loof
Burns
Buchinger
Kehrer

Someone like Kehrer (free agent signed to a AHL contract out of U of Wisconsin) could pretty easily be sent to the ECHL but the other 7 they’ll want to get time. Jiricek would struggle to get time and anytime he got in the lineup then it’d mean someone like Burns maybe wasn’t.

The AHL is a BIG jump up from Jrs. I’d be shocked if even at the end of the season he’d be able to handle #1 or even 1st pairing duties.

Yeah, I guess my part of my point was that of the RHD, how much better are the rest? I know nothing about Johannesson and haven't seen him play in the preseason, but he's 24 and listed at 5'11 176lb. Skinner has been underwhelming but seemed to have at least a decent season last year and was called up (but did not play). Kehrer looked good at the tournament, and I forgot that he was in the mix as a 23 year old college guy.

Schueneman-Skinner
Lindstein-Johannesson
Burns-Buchinger
Gaudet-Kehrer
Loof

I agree there's no room for him there unless he has proven to Blues brass that he's definitely of the best of that bunch right now, not by projection.
I suppose the other question was whether or not he's ready to jump right into high minutes regardless of level of play/league. Probably not a big issue.

Edit: I see that he and many others were sent down.