Blues draft winger Justin Carbonneau in first round while search for second-line center continues

ST.

LOUIS In a 24-hour span, Jordan Kyrous name was in trade rumors , and the St.

Louis Blues were in talks with the New York Islanders about defenseman Noah Dobson before he was dealt to the Montreal Canadiens on Friday.

Following the first round of the NHL Draft on Friday night, Blues general manager Doug Armstrong, per usual, shed light on nothing.

Advertisement Yeah, Im not going to get into that, Armstrong said.

Armstrong didnt want to get into details, but on a night when the only Blues news was the player they drafted No.

19 Blainville-Boisbriand Armada right winger Justin Carbonneau Armstrong was very open about what hes trying to do in the coming week.

Were one of 27 teams that would love to find a second-line center thats just the reality of it, Armstrong said.

I dont know if we can.

Youve seen since we talked last: These guys are signing with their own teams.

Everyone is finding a way (to re-sign them).

You have to just be prepared to react to whats available on July 1.

But its easier to say than do when you look at the number of teams trying to accomplish that.

You saw the number of teams trying to accomplish that last year, and those centers made a lot of money and you guys can judge how it worked out for everybody.

Theres a shortage of players.

Theres a shortage of players in certain areas.

Its just reality.

Not that the Blues wouldve been in on the Florida Panthers Sam Bennett or the Toronto Maple Leafs John Tavares, but both centers re-upped with their respective clubs Friday.

In addition, the Colorado Avalanche traded center Charlie Coyle to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The options are dwindling.

The Vancouver Canucks Pius Suter is still a pending unrestricted free agent, and the Minnesota Wilds Marco Rossi is a pending restricted free agent.

There could be a few unknown trade candidates, but it still appears to be a limited list.

Will the Blues overpay in free agency? If not, will they make a trade? Armstrong seemed to hint at the latter on Friday.

Were very strong on the wing right now, he said.If we make a trade, it will be an apple for an apple.

Were going to trade someone that we may have a surplus for someone in an area that we need in the same age group.

I dont see us moving a younger player for an older player for a short-term fix.

That isnt where were at in our maturation.

Advertisement Those wingers include Pavel Buchnevich, Jake Neighbours, Dylan Holloway, Zack Bolduc, Jimmy Snuggerud and, of course, Kyrou.

Kyrous full no-trade clause kicks in on July 1, and his name has been in a lot of trade speculation, including with the Buffalo Sabres before they traded right winger JJ Peterka to the Utah Mammoth, and the Islanders before they dealt Dobson.

Interestingly, neither one of those situations involved the Blues getting a center, but it could all be part of the puzzle.

They could have upgraded their defense with Dobson and then taken another route to acquire a center.

However, when Armstrong was asked Friday if the Blues had to find one from outside the organization this offseason, he wouldnt go that far.

We had a great final push there with our center ice the way it was, he said.

That (Brayden) Schenn-Holloway-Kyrou line was very good.

Schenner is not getting younger, but he could do the job.

If we could support him, that would be great, but he can do the job.

And now, the Blues have added another strong wing to their pipeline in Carbonneau.

The 6-foot-2, 205-pounder was No.

16 on the NHLs Central Scoutings list of North American skaters.

He led Armada 49 goals and 92 points in 67 games this season (regular season and playoffs).

His 89 regular-season points were the second-most in the QMJHL, and he was named to the leagues first All-Star team.

I compare myself to (L.A.s) Adrian Kempe and (Philadelphias) Travis Konecny, Carbonneau said.

Kempe, his size, speed and shot.

I bring that.

Konecny, his mindset.

Im not scared of anyone.

I score goals in the paint and dirty areas.

I play with a lot of fire.

Im not really scared of anyone.

I know that the 6-8 guys are stronger probably than me and bigger, but Im going to still try.

Goals are scored in those areas.

You have to find ways to get there, and I use my body and my speed to get there.

Its important if you want to score goals like a goal-scorer like me.

Advertisement Thats the scouting report the Blues had on Carbonneau.

Hes a goal scorer, Armstrong said.

Hes someone that enjoys the fruits of his labors of scoring goals someone who adds another element to the guys we have right now.

The Blues had Carbonneau in a grouping of players they thought might be available at No.

19.

The mock drafts had him somewhere (Nos.) 14-18, so we thought that he would be a little bit of a stretch, but he might get to us, Armstrong said.

They took him despite Kitchener Rangers defensemen Cameron Reid and University of Wisconsin defenseman Logan Hensler still being on the board.

We took three D last year, Armstrong said.

Wed like to smooth out our depth chart.

There was not much opportunity for the Blues to move up in the first round, and though they only have three picks in this draft, they decided against dropping back and acquiring an extra pick.

It was a difficult year to move up because we didnt have a second, third or fourth, Armstrong said.

We did talk to a couple of teams (about trading down).

We mightve been able to go to 22 or 23 and acquire a late second or third.

But youre crossing your fingers that you dont lose three guys.

We didnt have to do that because at 19, there was a player that we were excited about in our block.

Carbonneau will either play NCAA hockey next season at Boston College or return to junior.

Thats one of the topics to talk with the Blues, he said.

Boston College is a great option for me to develop with older guys, or in Blainville.

Two good options, but some talks that Im going to do with St.

Louis and decide in the next few days.

On Friday, Carbonneau was wearing an NHL jersey for the first time, becoming the first Blue to be officially presented with the new rebranded uniform.

I always play for the logo on the front, he said.

To see this beautiful logo that changed a few days ago, its a great logo.

To wear it one day, its going to be my next goal.

(Photo: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images).

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