MARYLAND
HEIGHTS, Mo. — There
was no second-guessing for Justin Carbonneau.
The
St. Louis Blues first round pick (No. 19) in the 2025 NHL Draft was
strong in his conviction when asked about his decision to return to
junior hockey at Blainville -Boisbriand
Armada of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League rather
than go the college route to Boston College.
“Going
college, I couldn’t be here today, so that’s a big thing,”
Carbonneau
said Thursday, a day prior to Blues prospects departing for Minnesota
for the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase.
“I wanted to spend time with the prospects, the staff, all the
players. I think it’s a great opportunity for me and a lot of
learning I’ll get through the camp. That’s a big thing. Also,
I’ve been there for three years in Blainville, bonding with my
teammates. It would have been tough for me to leave that. Two reasons
why I made the decision.
“It
came close. I think Boston College is a great spot for everyone who
goes there, but I feel like QMJHL, they did a lot for me to play
where I am today for the last three years. I owe them the opportunity
that they gave me at 16 years old. I’ve been loyal to them. This
year, we have a great team. We’re trying to win a Cup, the
(Memorial) Cup. I think I’m in a great spot wherever I play, but I
think it’s a good decision that I took.”
And
let’s not forget the greatest reason: earning a spot in the NHL
with the Blues this season.
Signing a three-year, two-way, entry-level contract on Thursday was
the start to that process.
“I
guess it’s (the) first step,” Carbonneau
said.
“Now it’s an opportunity for me to kind of take it and make the
best out of it. It’s the first step for me, so I’m really happy.”
Carbonneau
will be at main camp when things kick off Sept. 18 at Centene
Community Ice Center, but first thing is first, and that’s the
opportunity to play with fellow prospects at the Tom Kurvers Prospect
Showcase against the Minnesota Wild on Friday and Chicago Blackhawks
on Saturday, and a chance to play with Dalibor Dvorsky, the No. 10
pick in the 2023 draft, and Otto Stenberg, the No. 25 pick that same
draft class.
“They’re
really good,” Carbonneau
said.
“I’m grateful to play with them. I think both guys are really
talented, a lot of talent. Good offensive guys, a lot of skating,
but yeah, with my grit, my scoring abilities, I think I can complete
them well. I’m real happy to play with them.”
Dvorsky
added, “He’s
a great player. A good guy off the ice as well. We only had one
practice together, but it felt good. I’m excited to play with them
the next two games.”
The
Blues left Carbonneau’s decision totally up to him. They of course
had their input on what they think is best for the investment they
will be making in the forward, but they saw no harm in a decision one
way or the other. In this case, it’s a chance to get the product up
close and personable right from the start.
“When
the kids choose what they want to, we’re happy for them and we
support them 100 percent,” Blues
assistant general manager Tim
Taylor said.
“He’s made a commitment to his junior team and to us and we’re
excited about his future. As you see, he’s got great hands, he’s
a big kid, he’s mature about his age with his strength. I think
that he’s going to excel these next two games for rookie camp and
looking forward what he does at main camp as well.”
The
Blues have always said that should a kid or young player come into
training camp, they will be doing so trying to take someone else’s
job. That’s what the 18-year-old Carbonneau will be up against. He
has the body (6-foot-1, 191 pounds) to do so, but lacks the
experience of challenging men.
“You
see your future more clear I think and you see the path that you need
to take,” Taylor
said.
“It gives you some sort of idea where you need to get to. You see
the NHL players, you’re here amongst everyone, you kind of see what
you need to do to get there, and you’re excited about your future
too. One doesn’t trump the other, it’s whatever is best for each
individual and he’s chosen this and he feels this is the best
situation for him to get to the NHL, and we believe that as well.
“…
At
the end of the day, kids show us where they’re supposed to be, and
we’ll see at camp,
see how his strength holds up to other guys. You think you’re
coming in and you think you’re strong until you play against NHL
players and men. I don’t know how that’s going to play out for
him. He’s just a kid I’m really excited about. His future with
the Blues is looking bright. We want to play it day by day and let
him experience this because this is his first NHL training camp and
let it play out and see where it lies.”
Carbonneau,
who had 89 points (46 goals, 43 assists) in 62 games last season,
will have three choices laid in front of him: make the team out of
camp permanently, get nine games and then the Blues decide whether
it’s NHL or junior the rest of the season, or he simply needs a
full season in the QMJHL because he’s not quite ready for this
level of play but gets to help fuel a run for a title at the junior
level.
“One
step at a time, but yeah, my goal is I have nothing to lose, right,”
Carbonneau
said. “I’ll
go all out, I’ll try to show everything I have and try to learn
from older players and guys that have played for the Blues. My goal
is to play there one day and be there with them. It’s going to be a
fun experience.
“I
think I want to show my passion, I want to show that I care, my
compete level, my grit. I think a lot of people know that I can score
goals and I have offensive talent, I would say, but I’m here to
show them passion about my game, I
compete and all out for everything I do.”
