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2025 Draft prospect Justin Carbonneau could help solve Flames’ offensive woes
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Photo credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Liam Mabley
Jun 25, 2025, 15:30 EDTUpdated: Jun 24, 2025, 00:02 EDT
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The Calgary Flames have an extensive history of drafting players out of the CHL, in fact, 21 of their last 35 draft picks have hailed from one of the three major Canadian junior leagues (OHL, WHL and QMJHL).
There’s a high likelihood that they will continue this trend in the first round of this year’s draft, with an abundance of CHL talent set to hear their names called in the first 32 picks on Friday. Justin Carbonneau of the Quebec Maritime Junior Hockey League is one of those players, and he possesses tools that the Flames desperately need more of.

Scouting report

Carbonneau was born on Nov. 25, 2006, just south of Quebec City across the St Lawrence River in the city of Lévis. He’s a right-shot winger standing at 6’1″ and weighing 192 pounds.
Carbonneau has garnered a ton of attention over the past two seasons for his dynamic offensive ability. He has an extensive skillset with the puck on his stick, something he put on full display in his first draft-eligible season, resulting in him finishing second in goals and points in all of the QMJHL.
Steven Ellis of Daily Faceoff had Carbonneau at 14th in his final draft rankings, and he gave the Quebec native quite high praise in his report:
“Carbonneau doesn’t seem to get enough love for the season he just had. He scored 46 goals and 89 points while boasting one of the best shots in the draft class. He’s known for making high-end moves and can beat most players in 1-on-1 situations. The upside is massive here, but he can be prone to giving the puck away too easily and doesn’t engage much physically. Still, with the right players around him, Carbonneau looks like a future first-line winger who can score 30 goals a season.”
Sportsnet’s Sam Cosentino ranked Carbonneau at 15th back in May and had this to say about him:
“Exhibits a unique wide-skating style that is effective in driving to the net. It’s not as effective when he’s trying to get off the mark, but overall his skating is not an issue. Carbonneau possesses some of the best offensive instincts in this draft class and he has the skill to put them into action.”
Carbonneau landed at 18th on Jason Bukala of Sportsnet’s final draft rankings, this was his synopsis:
“Carbonneau has outstanding puck touch. He makes plays in small areas and he’s difficult to contain as a result. His skating could still go to another level, but he did produce 46G-43A for the Armada.”
The Armada winger dominates on the offensive side of the puck in multiple facets. He combines a great shot and puck skills with the size and speed to rush the net, forming a strong playmaking catalogue.
Check out Carbonneau’s offensive creativity on this solo effort goal.

The numbers

Carbonneau has improved each year he’s played in the QMJHL, going from 18 points in 30 games in 2022-23 to 59 in 68 last year and now an impressive 89 in 62 (46G, 43A) this past season.
He’s posted 11 points in 16 career playoff games with the Armada. Additionally, he registered two assists in two games during the USA/CHL Top Prospects Challenge in November.

Availability and fit

Carbonneau represents a lot of what the Flames are looking for this upcoming draft, he’s a skilled goal scorer who also has the ability to distribute the puck and set up teammates.
He has room to improve defensively as well as physically and doesn’t play centre which are certainly drawbacks, considering Calgary’s need for support down the middle. However, he’ll be one of the premiere offensive players available should he slip to their first selection at 18th overall.
Carbonneau is practically stapled to the 10 to 20 range in expert draft rankings with virtually no variance outside of that window. He’s a consensus middle of the first-round pick so if the Flames want him he’ll need to have a small draft slide and they’ll need to use their top pick at 18 to take him.
Much has been made of Calgary’s search for a first-line centreman of the future, but the reality is they need help everywhere up front. Their only true right-wingers under contract are Matt Coronato and Adam Klapka, so if Carbonneau happens to be available to them on Friday, they’ll likely consider making him their first selection.
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