With the 2025 NHL Entry Draft mere weeks away, let\u2019s have a look at some candidates that could hear their name called as Montreal Canadiens General Manager Kent Hughes takes the podium.<\/p>\n
There should be interesting prospects still available with the 16th and 17th picks, including highly-touted Carter Bear<\/a> (if the stars align).<\/p>\n But one prospect could have many Habs faithful crossing their fingers on June 25, local phenom Justin Carbonneau. Here\u2019s what the talented winger brings to the table.<\/p>\n Justin Carbonneau, RW, Shoots Right, 6\u20191\u2033, 192 lb, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada<\/p>\n To say Justin Carbonneau likes to have the puck on his stick is an understatement. He is puck-hungry, nay, puck starved! He absolutely loves to circle back in his zone to gather speed to dangle all the way to the net, making defenders look foolish in the process. As a result, plenty of his goals are coast-to-coast beauties.<\/p>\n Justin Carbonneau (#2025NHLDraft<\/a>) has that ability to just take over games on his own. It\u2019s still a work in progress, but sequences like these make you wonder how high he\u2019ll soar.<\/p>\n Ridiculous skill and dynamism. #QMJHL<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/c8QztcblDC<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Hadi Kalakeche (@HadiK_Scouting) December 14, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n However, there are some cons to this tendency, as he can sometimes forget he has teammates, and tries to dangle the entire opposing roster \u2014 albeit he does succeed at times. This is the kind of behaviour you can get away with in junior hockey that quickly gets coached out of players once they enter the professional ranks, so there isn\u2019t much cause for concern.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a good ability to have, when you know when to use it.<\/p>\n Additionally, Carbonneau possesses a lethal shot, perhaps the softest hands in the draft class, and has legitimate playmaking abilities. So once he figures out how to play a \u2018pro\u2019 game and brushes up his decision-making, he could truly have defenders guessing and playing on their heels at all times, as he could beat them in more ways than they can count.<\/p>\n With 46 goals and 43 assists in 62 contests he is the second-best scorer overall in the Quebec Maritime Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), and his performance has earned him a nomination for the Michel-Bri\u00e8re Trophy, recognizing him as his team\u2019s Most Valuable Player.<\/p>\n #1 : Justin Carbonneau with 2G, 3A for 5 pts in 5 games. He was dominant in his second game with 4 pts and 14 (!!) shots attempt! pic.twitter.com\/Ln5RRoQoH3<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Mckeen\u2019s QMJHL (@mckeensQMJHL) September 25, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n I happen to see a resemblance with ex-Montreal Canadiens Jonathan Drouin (in his draft year). Although less shifty, Carbonneau is bigger, and plays a tougher brand of hockey. But his ability to manipulate an entire team before manifesting a dangerous scoring chance looks oddly familiar. I\u2019m not projecting a similar career to Drouin\u2019s, but there are a lot of qualities that Carbonneau possess that are akin to those of a player taken third overall, twelve years ago.<\/p>\n Montreal Canadiens Interest<\/p>\n Carbonneau already has NHL size and is not afraid to use it. When he hits, he does so with authority and excels at lowering the shoulder when charging the net. He won\u2019t be denied when he decides so!<\/p>\n He\u2019s got powerful, explosive first strides that allow him to win short distance races or quickly separate himself when coming away from a puck battle. This allows him to earn extra seconds when entering prime real estate on the ice, before ripping the puck. And it\u2019s been his bread and butter. Make something happen, pop up in uncontested ice, create a grade A chance, rinse, repeat.<\/p>\n Justin Carbonneau is one of the more skilled players in the #2025NHLDraft<\/a>. He\u2019s entertaining, blends tools, creates advantages & manages a mountain of puck touches in a given game.<\/p>\n Sometimes, tunnel vision takes over, & you get plays like this. \ud83e\udd23<\/p>\n 27GP-20G-22A-42P this season pic.twitter.com\/5YelkS0Mhv<\/a><\/p>\n