Draft Preview: Carbonneau Offers Size, Skill, Football Mentality

(Editor’s Note: The Detroit Red Wings will select 13th at the NHL draft this week in Los Angeles. Detroit Hockey Now is profiling prospects expected to land in the No. 10-20 range. Today we look at Blainville-Boisbriand Armada right wing Justin Carbonneau. NHL’s Central Scouting ranks Carbonneau 16th among North American prospects.) 

It’s been some time since Justin Carbonneu played football, but he says his gridiron mentality remains. 

 “Was pretty good,” he told NHL.com. “I love to play football and those hits and all that. I was a linebacker on defense and running back on offense.”

Carbonneau gave up football for hockey when he entered high school, a decision that paid off handsomely for the draft. 6-1, 192-pound forward who is expected to be among first round picks in this month’s NHL Draft. The Red Wings are looking for young scorers and Carbonneau looks like a natural goal scorer. 

The Quebec native had 46 goals and 89 points in 62 games last year for the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League after recording 31 goals in 68 games the year before. 

Last November, he had two points in as many games at the CHL USA Prospects tournament, turning heads in the process. 

Now, as the draft approaches, he is thinking about improving his game.

Striving To Improve

Certainly, he can find the net; 77 goals over two seasons proves that. He consistently works on the little things that go with that.

“It’s all about shooting pucks, but with a purpose,” he said. “Like shooting only post-in, shooting in a different direction, different shooting stride, shooting in motion, all that. It’s different tools you work at on the ice, but off the ice too, that helps you have a better season.

“(Auston) Matthews I think, has one of the best kind of shooting motions, a toe drag and all that. (David) Pastrnak is really good with his poise; (Artemi) Panarin too. It doesn’t take the best shots to kind of snipe it bar-down. Sometimes it’s about your deception and those guys are really good at it.”

College Bound?

Carbonneau is slated to land somewhere in the middle of the first round. Mock drafts have him picked anywhere between No. 11 and No. 19.

He’s also been tutored by skills and shooting coach Maxim Noreau, who had a cup of coffee with the Minnesota Wild.

“I always tell him, ‘Look at my shot, you see my shot? I had six NHL games and I got zero points, so if you think you’re going to rely on something like that, it’s not enough. You’ve got to be a package.’ And I think Justin understands that.”

Work hard and get rewarded 💪

That's Justin Carbonneau's motto. pic.twitter.com/ljWCKecxgE

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) June 23, 2025

NHL Central Scouting appreciates Carbonneau’s potential.

“I like his scoring drive,” Central Scouting senior Eastern scout Jean-Francois Damphousse said. “He has that goal-scoring ability, finds the quiet ice and scoring areas and utilizes his excellent shot release. He’s very good at changing the angle of his shot to surprise goalies. He has that one-timer ability and has soft hands to create plays as well.

“He has no issues playing in traffic, can deliver hard hits when he’s in that mode. He’s an agile skater, has an east/west game and can transport pucks coast to coast at times. Lots of good parts in his game.”

Drafting him won’t solve the Red Wing’ scoring problems this season, but a couple of years of seasoning might make  Carbonneau attractive to Detroit, 

In the meantime, Carbonneau is taking his time before announcing his next move. He said he has been talking with Boston College and Boston University as well.

He plans to work on improving his game wherever he goes. 

“It’s just being better than last year,” Carbonneau said. “If you take steps in your game and you find ways to improve, I think everything will be good.”