Justin Carbonneau – 2025 NHL Entry Draft Prospect Profile

His game excels in transition thanks to his speed and vision. He uses his shiftiness to work through the neutral zone and gain steam to get set up in the offensive game. He also shows some power forward elements in his game, having the capability of protecting the puck well and working himself into high-danger areas. Carbonneau has the skill to be a shooting threat or a setup guy. When given the time and space to get a shot off, he has the ability to shoot from any position and spot in the offensive zone, thanks to a great release with his shot. But when he does not have a shooting lane himself, he is constantly looking for a spot to make a play and pass to a teammate.

His passing ability is strong, and he has all the makings of being an offensive force at the next level. The biggest downfall to his offensive game seems to be that even though he plays with good pace and has the speed to make great plays, he tends to play too quickly and tries to do too much himself from time to time. Improvements in this aspect of his game will come from maturation and slowing down his game. 

Carbonneau’s game and skill make him a threat to play in any situation, whether it’s special teams, a checking role, goal scoring, or a playmaker. He is certainly a player that an NHL organization would love to have in their system, and he should be a top-20 pick in June’s draft. 

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Justin Carbonneau – NHL Draft Projection

Carbonneau has the potential to be a top-six forward who can score. His shooting skills and offensive instincts make him a valuable asset on the power play. At the same time, his physicality and strong skating enable him to excel in transition and along the boards. Outside of Porter Martone and, for some, Cameron Schmidt, Carbonneau is one of the best right wing draft-eligible players this year, and he is likely to be drafted in the 10-20 range.

Quotables

“His skating stride could be a little more compact and efficient, but he gets to where he needs to go on time. He’s strong on his stick, yet still has soft hands to protect pucks and make plays.” – Sam Cosentino, Sportsnet 

“Carbonneau’s game has a lot of high-end attributes. Great skater? Check. Excellent shot release? Absolutely. A bit of an edge, at times? You bet. Carbonneau loves to make big, flashy, high-end plays and often comes out on the right side of it.” – Steven Ellis, Daily Faceoff

“Carbonneau is a crafty playmaker with outstanding puck touch. He makes plays in tight quarters, over opponents’ sticks, and through their skates. He consistently plays to his identity offensively. His battle game/secondary pushback is improving.” – Jason Bukala, Sportsnet

Strengths

Under Construction/Improvements to Make

NHL Potential 

Carbonneau is a skilled winger with the potential to excel professionally. His scoring ability and offensive instincts are already at an NHL-caliber level. With improvements to his physical game and decision-making, his style of play draws strong comparisons to Brock Boeser of the Vancouver Canucks. A right-shot winger, he possesses a powerful shot, deceptive puck-handling skills, and the ability to make a significant offensive impact in a top-six role.

Risk-Reward Analysis

Risk – 3.5/5, Reward – 4.5/5

Fantasy Hockey Potential

Offense – 7.5/10, Defence – 7/10

Interviews/Links

TSN: The Next Generation: Justin Carbonneau

Justin Carbonneau Stats

Videos