​MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. — Justin Carbonneau fully understands that the St. Louis Blues’ forward group entering the 2026-27 season is crowded. Yet that reality holds little sway for the Blues’ 2025 NHL Draft first-rounder, who went No. 19 overall to St. Louis. There will always be someone eager to crash the party, and Carbonneau embraces that mindset. “My goal is to play in the NHL next year. It doesn’t mean I’m going to, but I approach training camp with the mindset of doing everything I can to play,” Carbonneau said recently at development camp. “If I step into a gym, it’s because I want to play in the NHL. If I want to go on the ice for a one-on-one battle, I’m playing to show I belong with the Blues. At the end of the day, the decision isn’t mine, but I’ll do everything possible to force their hand.”
Despite odds favoring a Springfield, Massachusetts–based start in the American Hockey League after his Calder Cup playoff run with the Thunderbirds, this is precisely the kind of attitude the Blues want to hear from one of their newest first-round selections. The 6-foot-1, 203-pound right winger has nothing left to prove after returning to Blainville-Boisbriand in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League to chase a championship last season. The Armada fell short of the league title and the chance to compete for the Memorial Cup, which Carbonneau had set as the objective when he chose to return to junior hockey rather than head to Boston College. He followed up an 89-point season in 2024-25 (46 goals, 43 assists) with 80 points this past season (51 goals, 29 assists), plus-31, and another 20 points (nine goals, 11 assists) in 17 postseason games before joining the Thunderbirds for a three-game playoff stint.
If Carbonneau had authored his own script, there would have been no AHL appearance, since that would have meant the Armada had advanced deeper into the postseason. Yet, on a personal level, the experience proved valuable. “From a personal point of view, yes, but ultimately it wasn’t the year I expected because I didn’t win,” he reflected. “I think it’s all about that—whether I score 100 goals or we lose in the semifinals. It’s not what I want. It’s about learning; you learn through that. There are a few things I would have liked to do better, but it’s about keeping the learning going.”
So what did he take away from Springfield in a short stint? “I think every detail matters,” Carbonneau said. “The game moves fast and is played hard there. It’s about developing the mindset to be ready to go every single night and every shift.” He emphasizes progress and growth, aiming to translate the lessons from 2024-25 into tangible improvements this season.
From the 2024-25 season to the current one, Carbonneau has sought to take incremental steps in understanding what it takes to be successful, both on and off the ice, with an eye toward optimizing performance for better long-term outcomes. He continues to balance the pressure of high expectations with a disciplined approach to training, development camp, and the prospect of contributing at the NHL level sooner rather than later. His focus remains clear: maximize every opportunity, push for a role in the Blues’ lineup, and let the on-ice results define the pace of his ascent.