After losing several top players in recent weeks and months to the NCAA, the CHL got some good news on Friday.
St. Louis Blues first-round pick Justin Carbonneau will return to the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada if he doesn’t make the NHL team, the QMJHL team announced. The No. 19 pick in this year’s draft was debating between going back to the Armada or playing at Boston College.
“That’s one of the topics to talk (about) with the Blues,” he said, per The Athletic, after being drafted. “Boston College is a great option for me to develop with older guys, or in Blainville. Two good options, but some talks that I’m going to do with St. Louis and decide in the next few days.”
Carbonneau was second in QMJHL scoring last season with 46 goals and 43 assists for 89 points in 62 games last season.
The WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers lost 2026 projected No. 1-overall NHL pick Gavin McKenna to Penn State earlier this week.
CHL players are eligible to play in the NCAA starting next season after the U.S. college sports governing body changed a rule last November.
More than 150 CHL players from this past season have committed to play in the NCAA next season, though many of those are aged out or would have been overagers in junior hockey.
Top CHL picks from this year’s NHL Draft are now in the spotlight. Players not to make any commitments one way or the other yet include No. 1-overall pick Matthew Schaefer (New York Islanders, Erie Otters), No. 2 Michael Misa (San Jose Sharks, Saginaw Spirit), No. 4 Caleb Desnoyers (Utah Mammoth, Moncton Wildcats) and No. 6 Porter Martone (Philadelphia Flyers, Brampton Steelheads).
Players who sign entry-level contracts are not eligible to play in the NCAA.
