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Justin Carbonneau: The first Québécois drafted by the Habs in the first round since 2009?
Michaël Petit
Justin Carbonneau: The first Québécois drafted by the Habs in the first round since 2009?
Credit: If there’s one player who could be drafted by the Montreal Canadiens this summer, and it’s the talk of the town, it’s Québécois Justin Carbonneau. Earlier today, my colleague Charles-Alexis Brisebois wrote an article about the first-round prospect firing his agent… by e-mail. Pretty ordinary, I’d say. Still, his talent is undeniable, with 89 points, […]

If there’s one player who could be drafted by the Montreal Canadiens this summer, and it’s the talk of the town, it’s Québécois Justin Carbonneau.

Earlier today, my colleague Charles-Alexis Brisebois wrote an article about the first-round prospect firing his agent… by e-mail.

Pretty ordinary, I’d say.

Still, his talent is undeniable, with 89 points, including 46 goals, in 62 games this season.

He knows how to put it in, you might say.

And according to the experts, he could very well be available when the Habs draft, if the club keeps its two first-round picks, of course.

It’s been no less than 16 years since the Habs selected a Québécois in the first round of a draft.

We go back to the summer of 2009, when Louis Leblanc was selected 18th, a similar ranking to the Habs’ picks on June 27 (16th and 17th).

Nicolas Cloutier of TVA Sports spoke with the man himself and wrote a very interesting article about it:

At the Marriott Harborcenter lobby bar, Carbonneau was very convincing in his words, which makes the prospect’s profile quite intriguing.

For him, being a Québécois makes no difference: he’s a hockey player first and foremost.

As we all know, a Québécois playing in Montreal can go either way.

Louis Leblanc comes to mind, of course, but so does Jonathan Drouin.

The latter two haven’t had much success with the Habs, and that’s to be expected, as we know that the fans are (very) intense and the pressure isn’t for everyone.

Leblanc’s case is quite different from Drouin’s, but the principle remains the same.

But in an interview with Nicolas Cloutier, Carbonneau doesn’t seem to be letting the opportunity to be the first player from La Belle Province drafted by the Habs in the first round in 16 years get to him.

“I’d be happy and proud to be the first since 2009. I didn’t really know the statistic. For me, it would be a bit of a dream to be able to say I got into the NHL with them.” – Justin Carbonneau

Of course, the dream of every young Québécois hockey player is to play for his childhood club.

But it takes a strong head to play in Montreal, especially as a Québécois.

In the interview, which I strongly suggest you read here, Carbonneau puts a lot of emphasis on his desire to win and his will to improve.

A young player who wants to win at all costs and who will do anything to become the best version of himself, that’s worth its weight in gold.

You may have all the talent in the world, but if you don’t put in the effort, your career may take a different turn.

In short, the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada product can’t wait to see which team will make “the best choice” by drafting him, as he so aptly put it.


Overtime

– Coming up.

– This better be a joke. Seriously?

– Bettman confirms that development is already underway for the 2028 World Cup of Hockey.

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