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With absolutely nothing happening in the hockey world right now, and for the foreseeable future, I’ve decided to take the plunge and write player profiles for each member of the New Jersey Devils.
As was the case when I did them last summer, we’ll be looking at the season they just put together and expectations moving forward.
I’ve written up 15 players thus far, with Kyle Palmieri being the most recent.
Today we’re going with Connor Carrick.
Counting stats: 29 games played, six points (one goals, five assists), 14:25 average time on ice
5v5 underlyings: 0.92 points/60, -5.01 CF% Rel, -5.94 GF% Rel, -3.59 xGF% Rel, 99.7 PDO
2019-20 review: I was always a fan of Connor Carrick while he made his way through the ranks. His ceiling was never that high but I thought he would become a solid depth defender, and that he had more talent than the average guy you’d see on the 3rd pairing. That hasn’t been evident – especially in New Jersey.
His underlying numbers in Toronto were generally solid across the board. They started to fall off in Dallas, and things have only gotten worse with the Devils. I think this season, in particular, was a trying year for Carrick.
He didn’t move the puck all that well and he wasn’t as aggressive getting up in the play. His shot, chance, and xG rate stats were all career lows. The vast majority of his shifts were spent running around in the defensive zone, regardless of which player he was paired with.
Carrick tried to play with some edge – it was refreshing given the lack of physicality on the roster – but otherwise didn’t really bring much to the table.
New Jersey’s defense, as we all know, was a disaster. Carrick still couldn’t separate himself from the pack. If anything, he did for the wrong reasons.
Carrick was often an eyesore and the team’s defensive numbers were much better without him on the ice.
Fun fact(s): Of 219 eligible defenders, only 12 generated Expected Goals at a lower rate than Carrick (0.12 per 60).
2020-21 outlook: Carrick is signed through next season at $1.5 million. He’s not going to be handed a spot, though.
P.K. Subban, Damon Severson, and Will Butcher are all signed and unquestionably ahead of Carrick on the depth chart. I don’t think much of Mirco Mueller (RFA) but based on his usage – he played a lot more – I would assume he’s ahead of Carrick. You also have to think Ty Smith is a borderline lock to claim a spot. That’d be five of six regular slots accounted for, and you have to believe Tom Fitzgerald (or anybody else in charge) will be seeking out a quality defender or two in free agency or via trade.
Realistically speaking, Carrick will probably enter camp as one of several fighting for the 7/8 slots on defense. The Devils are well off financially so they can afford to bury him in the minors and take a hit to their cap. He’s not going to be handed a spot. He has to earn it and, based on his performance this season, I’m not sure he will.
Camp is going to be massive for him.
numbers via naturalstattrick.com and hockey-reference.com
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