Get to Know Alexandre Carrier | A Trade With a Clear Purpose
It’s no surprise to anyone that Justin Barron was no longer part of the Montreal Canadiens’ plans. The player Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton acquired in the Artturi Lehkonen trade was never able to establish himself with the Montreal Canadiens. His lack of consistency can be pointed out as the main issue, but the accumulation of offensive defensemen in the organization made him more or less irrelevant in their structure. So, who is Alexandre Carrier, the player who came in the opposite direction in the trade with the Nashville Predators?
A Long Road to the NHL for Alexandre Carrier
Alexandre Carrier established himself in the NHL starting in the 2021-2022 season, during his sixth year as a professional. After two years of shuttling between the AHL and the NHL, the Quebec native managed to convince the Nashville Predators’ management of his ability to play in the best league in the world.
As we can see from his minor league statistics, the right-handed defenseman always had offensive talent, but that hasn’t been his standout quality since becoming a regular in the NHL. Was the offensive leap to the NHL too much for him? Why did the organization that drafted him in 2015 award him such a significant contract despite the lack of production? At 28 years old, can he realistically fit into the Montreal Canadiens’ plans given his 5-foot-11, 174-pound frame? Let’s explore these questions.
A Complete 180-Degree Shift
Since the 2021-2022 season, Alexandre Carrier has been one of the Nashville Predators’ penalty-killing specialists. During his time in the AHL, the right-handed defenseman adjusted his playing style to adopt a defensive approach based on mobility, intelligence, and active stick use. Much like Jake Evans did within the Montreal Canadiens’ AHL affiliate, Carrier decided to reinvent himself as a player to maximize his chances of securing a spot in the NHL.
This reinvention can be considered a success, as in 2021-2022, Alexandre Carrier was the 12th most utilized defenseman in the NHL on the penalty kill in terms of cumulated TOI. In 2022-2023, he ranked 132nd despite playing only 43 games. In 2023-2024, he rose to 80th and currently sits 38th at the time of writing. The Predators currently rank first in the league in penalty-killing efficiency, so it’s fair to assume Kent Hughes had a clear purpose in mind with this acquisition.
Alexandre Carrier to the Rescue of David Savard and Mike Matheson
With Carrier in the defensive corps, the GM strengthens the depth by adding experience. Alexandre Carrier will also help ease the burden on David Savard and Mike Matheson, who have been shouldering most of the penalty-killing responsibilities since the start of the season. While he’s not the most physical defenseman, that doesn’t appear to be what the Canadiens were looking for, in my opinion. I genuinely believe the organization sought a mobile player capable of logging minutes (averaging 20:08 of ice time), blocking shots (49), and excelling in transitions.
To be clear, Alexandre Carrier is not an impact defenseman. He’s a specialist (or a « gadget » as some might say) who played for the league’s worst-ranked team. Things aren’t going well over there, so we shouldn’t expect someone who will singlehandedly elevate everyone around him. The Quebec native was acquired to solidify the back end and relieve the pressure on both younger and veteran defensemen. Once again, this is a low-risk acquisition for Kent Hughes and the Montreal Canadiens, which could even prove to be a smart move if it helps optimize the contributions of everyone in the lineup.
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