The St. Louis Blues added a skilled, goal-scoring winger to their lineup with their first-round selection in the 2025 NHL Draft. With only one first-round pick and three selections total, general manager Doug Armstrong had limited opportunity to make an impact — but early signs suggest he may have made the most of it.
The Blues used their top pick to draft right winger Justin Carbonneau from the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada of the QMJHL. Carbonneau had an impressive season, tallying 46 goals and 43 assists for 89 points, following up on a 59-point campaign the year before.
After being selected, Carbonneau confidently shared comparisons to two established NHL forwards:
“I compare myself to Adrian Kempe and Travis Konecny. With Kempe, it’s the size, speed, and shot — I think I bring that. And Konecny, it’s the mindset. I’m not scared of anyone. I score goals in the paint and dirty areas.”
Standing at 6’2″, Carbonneau matches Kempe’s size and brings a gritty, hard-nosed approach similar to Konecny, who plays with a fearless edge despite being a few inches shorter.
Kempe, drafted 29th overall in 2014, has developed into a reliable scorer for the Kings, with 401 points (194 goals, 207 assists) over nine seasons. Konecny, selected 24th in 2015, has built a similar reputation for the Flyers, totaling 476 points (198 goals, 278 assists) across his NHL career.
If Carbonneau can evolve into a player of similar caliber, the Blues’ 2025 draft could prove to be a strong one — even with a limited number of picks.
