The St. Louis Blues should not hesitate to throw Justin Carbonneau into the NHL fire—because he looks every bit like a player who belongs there.
At just 18 years old, Carbonneau already carries the frame and presence of a seasoned professional, standing 6-foot-1 and weighing roughly 201 pounds. His game blends physical authority with skill: he delivers clean, forceful checks, handles the puck with precision, and uses his speed to drive directly to the net. He does so with confidence and fearlessness rare for someone his age.
Carbonneau’s growth in junior hockey with the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada of the QMJHL has been nothing short of exponential. His statistical progression tells the story. In the 2022–23 season, he recorded 18 points in 30 games. A season later, he erupted for 59 points across 68 appearances. Most recently, he elevated his production again—this time to 89 points in just 62 contests. Remarkably, despite playing six fewer games than the year before, he added 30 more points. Both his goals and assists increased by 15 apiece, showcasing not only scoring touch but also playmaking maturity.
Add Carbonneau to the opening night roster
The real question is: why not? Sports history is full of great athletes who stepped up earlier than expected, so why shouldn’t Carbonneau get the same chance? The counterargument is fair—young players who struggle early sometimes become too hard on themselves and lose confidence. But in Carbonneau’s case, confidence doesn’t seem to be an issue.
Yet at some point, the training wheels have to come off. It’s the same as the traditional parent who hesitates to let their child grow up. Early adversity, far from being detrimental, often proves essential. Those first struggles can be formative, shaping a player’s resilience and fueling the kind of development that separates prospects from professionals.
QMJHL or NHL?
The question of whether Carbonneau should return to junior hockey or remain with the NHL roster appears, to me, far less complicated than critics suggest. For many, preseason was positioned as the definitive barometer—the arena in which he would either validate or forfeit his candidacy. That examination has already been conducted, and the evidence is unequivocal.
The Blues, in truth, have scarcely impressed through their opening two preseason games, mustering only a pair of goals—one in each contest. Yet within that modest output, Carbonneau emerged as a constant. He factored into both scoring plays, tallying a point on each, with a goal and an assist. As a result, Carbonneau distinguished himself as a player who could generate results regardless of circumstance.
Easy Choice
Carbonneau represents the quintessential high-risk, high-reward proposition. At his age, it’s natural to question whether the leap to the NHL is premature—but his talent makes the answer clear. Sending him back to the QMJHL would be little more than a formality, forcing him to dominate competition that cannot genuinely test him, let alone belong on the same sheet of ice.
By contrast, an opening-night roster spot in St. Louis would place him in an entirely new ecosystem—one where the playing field is more balanced and where seasoned veterans provide both guidance and challenge. It’s precisely in that environment, surrounded by professionals who understand every nuance of the game, that Carbonneau’s development can accelerate rather than stagnate.