Connor Carrick Explained

Connor Carrick
Birth Date:13 April 1994
Birth Place:Orland Park, Illinois, U.S.
Height Ft:5
Height In:10
Weight Lb:198
Position:Defense
Shoots:Right
Team:Edmonton Oilers
Prospect League:AHL
Former Teams:Washington Capitals
Toronto Maple Leafs
Dallas Stars
New Jersey Devils
Boston Bruins
Seattle Kraken
Draft:137th overall
Draft Year:2012
Draft Team:Washington Capitals
Career Start:2013

Connor Carrick (born April 13, 1994) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman who is currently playing with the Edmonton Oilers in the National Hockey League (NHL) He was selected by the Washington Capitals in the fifth round (137th overall) of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

Junior

Connor started playing AAA hockey in Chicago with the Chicago Fury, who subsequently retired his sweater number. He played there a season before getting drafted into the OHL by the Guelph Storm in the 11th round, 212th overall. The next two years, Carrick played with the US National Team Development Program, playing with the U-17 team the first year and the U-18 team the second year. That year, during his second season with the US National Team Development Program, he was traded from the Guelph Storm (for whom he chose not to play) to the Plymouth Whalers in exchange for a sixth-round pick and a pair of third-round picks.

During the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, the Washington Capitals selected Carrick in the fifth round, 137th overall. He chose to play the 2012–13 season in the OHL, where he played 68 games with the Whalers, recording 12 goals and 32 assists, for a total of 44 points, as well as 18 points in the post-season, while only playing in 15 games. He also led Plymouth in assists during the post-season with 16.

Carrick won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2013 IIHF World U18 Championship.[1]

Professional

Washington Capitals

On September 23, 2013, the Capitals signed Carrick to a three-year, entry-level contract.[2] On October 3, Carrick scored his first career NHL goal in a 5–4 win over the Calgary Flames.[3] He split the season between the Capitals and their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Hershey Bears.

Toronto Maple Leafs

On February 28, 2016, Carrick, Brooks Laich and a 2016 second-round pick were traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Daniel Winnik and a 2016 fifth-round pick.[4] He played in 16 games with the Maple Leafs to close out the season, recording four points. Carrick led the 2016 Calder Cup playoffs in scoring with 18 points in 15 games (including one five point performance).[5] However, he and the Maple Leafs' AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, were eliminated in Eastern Conference Finals by the Bears.[6]

On July 22, 2016, the Maple Leafs re-signed Carrick to a two-year contract extension.[7] He joined the Maple Leafs full-time for the 2016-17 season, appearing in 67 games.

On June 20, 2018, Carrick signed a one-year, $1.3 million contract extension with the Maple Leafs.[8]

Dallas Stars

On October 1, 2018, the Maple Leafs placed Carrick on waivers.[9] Later that day, he was traded to the Dallas Stars in exchange for a 2019 conditional seventh-round pick.[10] In his debut for the Stars on October 4, he recorded two assists in a 3–0 win over the Arizona Coyotes.[11] On October 28, Carrick was placed on injured reserve with a foot injury.[12] He returned to the Stars' lineup on December 31 in a 3–2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens.[13] On January 19, the Stars sent Carrick to their AHL affiliate, the Texas Stars on a conditioning loan.[14] He skated in four games for Texas before returning to Dallas on January 27.[15]

New Jersey Devils

On February 23, 2019, Carrick, along with a 2019 third-round pick, were traded to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Ben Lovejoy.[16] He skated in 20 games for the Devils to conclude the season.

On July 16, 2019, the Devils re-signed Carrick to a two-year, $3 million contract extension.[17]

Seattle Kraken

On August 4, 2021, Carrick was signed as a free agent to a one-year, two-way $800K contract with expansion club, the Seattle Kraken.[18] After attending training camp, Carrick was reassigned to the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL.[19]

Boston Bruins

As a free agent from the Kraken, Carrick joined the Boston Bruins organization, in signing a one-year, two-way contract on July 13, 2022.[20] In order to rest key players for the playoffs, the Bruins called Carrick up to the NHL club. Carrick played one game for Boston before being sent back down, recording an assist in his lone game.[21]

Return to Seattle

After a lone season within the Bruins organization, Carrick returned to the Seattle Kraken in signing as a free agent to a one-year, two-way contract for the season on July 3, 2023.[22]

Edmonton Oilers

As a free agent at the conclusion of his contract with the Kraken, Carrick joined his seventh NHL club in agreeing to a one-year, two-way contract with the Edmonton Oilers on July 1, 2024.[23]

Personal life

Carrick has two brothers, Hunter and Blake, who also play hockey. Blake plays Division 3 hockey for Trinity College,[24] while Hunter is committed to play at Penn State University.[25]

In the summer of 2018, Carrick married his fiancée Lexi Solofra.[26]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Team League GP GP G A Pts PIM
2009–10 U-18-T1EHL season2009–10Chicago Fury 18U AAAT1EHL22 2 4 6 2
2010–11U.S. NTDP JuniorsUSHL36 1 6 7 422 0 0 0 2
2010–11U.S. NTDP U17USDP53 4 16 20 52
2011–12U.S. NTDP JuniorsUSHL21 1 4 5 30
2011–12U.S. NTDP U18USDP57 8 13 21 46
2012–13Plymouth WhalersOHL68 12 32 44 7915 2 16 18 6
2013–14Washington CapitalsNHL34 1 5 6 23
2013–14Hershey BearsAHL13 0 4 4 15
2014–15Hershey BearsAHL73 8 34 42 13210 2 2 4 12
2015–16Hershey BearsAHL46 10 15 25 50
2015–16Washington CapitalsNHL3 0 0 0 0
2015–16Toronto Maple LeafsNHL16 2 2 4 15
2015–16Toronto MarliesAHL5 1 2 3 215 7 11 18 12
2016–17Toronto Maple LeafsNHL67 2 6 8 516 0 0 0 4
2017–18Toronto Maple LeafsNHL47 4 8 12 27
2018–19Dallas StarsNHL14 1 3 4 13
2018–19Texas StarsAHL4 1 1 2 0
2018–19New Jersey DevilsNHL20 1 6 7 6
2019–20New Jersey DevilsNHL29 1 5 6 17
2019–20Binghamton DevilsAHL3 0 0 0 2
2020–21New Jersey DevilsNHL11 1 1 2 5
2020–21Binghamton DevilsAHL13 0 6 6 12
2021–22Charlotte CheckersAHL59 10 22 32 677 0 4 4 6
2022–23Providence BruinsAHL63 6 38 44 524 0 1 1 4
2022–23Boston BruinsNHL1 0 1 1 0
2023–24Coachella Valley FirebirdsAHL70 9 25 34 6618 1 6 7 8
NHL totals24213375015760004

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2011United StatesU175 2 5 7 0
2012United StatesU186 2 2 4 2
2013United StatesWJC5th5 0 3 3 4
Junior totals16 4 10 14 6

Notes and References

  1. News: Grabovski ready to make Capitals debut, Carrick signs pro deal. .
  2. Web site: Capitals Sign Connor Carrick . Washington Capitals . September 23, 2013.
  3. News: Carrera . Katie . Washington Capitals rally from 3-0 deficit to beat Calgary in home opener in shootout, 5-4 . The Washington Post . October 3, 2013.
  4. Web site: Maple Leafs complete trade with the Washington Capitals . Toronto Maple Leafs . February 28, 2016.
  5. News: Connor Carrick's five-point night seals Marlies' sweep – Toronto Star. . 28 April 2016 .
  6. Web site: Marlies eliminated by Bears from Calder Cup playoffs in five games . Sportsnet . May 29, 2016.
  7. Web site: Maple Leafs sign Connor Carrick to two-year deal . Toronto Maple Leafs . July 22, 2016.
  8. Web site: Maple Leafs Connor Carrick to One-Year Contract . Toronto Maple Leafs . June 20, 2018.
  9. Web site: Maple Leafs Reduce Roster to 23 Players. NHL.com. October 1, 2018. October 1, 2018.
  10. Web site: Stars acquire defenseman Connor Carrick from Maple Leafs . Dallas Stars . October 1, 2018.
  11. Web site: DeFranks . Matthew . Fingerprints of Stars' new head coach Jim Montgomery all over season-opening shutout vs. Coyotes . SportsDay Dallas . October 4, 2018.
  12. Web site: Stars recall defenseman Dillon Heatherington from Texas . Dallas Stars . November 2, 2018.
  13. Web site: Dixon . Schuyler . Jeff Petry buries quick OT winner as Habs take down Stars . CBC . December 31, 2018.
  14. Web site: Stars reassign right wing Gurianov, center Hintz to Texas . Dallas Stars . January 19, 2019.
  15. Web site: Stepneski . Mark . The Dallas Stars have recalled defenseman Connor Carrick from Texas (AHL). . Twitter . January 27, 2019.
  16. Web site: Devils acquire third-round draft pick and Connor Carrick from Dallas . . February 23, 2019 . February 23, 2019.
  17. Web site: RELEASE: Devils Re-sign Defenseman Connor Carrick To A Two-Year Contract . New Jersey Devils . July 16, 2019.
  18. Web site: Kraken Agree to Terms with Alex True, Connor Carrick . . August 4, 2021 . August 4, 2021.
  19. Web site: Condor . Bob . Kraken Trim Roster . National Hockey League . October 5, 2021 . October 5, 2021.
  20. Web site: Bruins sign five players on opening day of Free Agency . . July 13, 2022 . July 13, 2022.
  21. Web site: Boston recalls five players on emergency basis . prohockeyrumors.com . April 10, 2023 . April 10, 2023.
  22. Web site: Connor Carrick returns to Seattle Kraken on a one-year, two-way deal . . July 3, 2023 . July 3, 2023.
  23. Web site: Oilers sign Connor Carrick to a one-year contract . . July 1, 2024 . July 1, 2024 .
  24. Web site: Blake Carrick . eliteprospects.com . January 1, 2019.
  25. Web site: Hunter Carrick Commits to Penn State . USHL.com . January 1, 2019 . December 11, 2017.
  26. Web site: More NHL wedding posts flooded social media timelines this weekend . bardown.com . January 1, 2019 . July 20, 2018.
  27. http://www.ushl.com/news.php?news_id=1969 United States Hockey League – USHL Alum Carrick Signs NHL Contract