Carolina Hurricanes Prospects: Trevor Carrick Coming off Fantastic Rookie Season

Between now and the start of the preseason, Cardiac Cane will preview every Carolina Hurricanes prospect as they enter the 2015-2016 season and what we expect from them in the coming year.

Player: Trevor Carrick

Position: Defense

Date of Birth: July 4, 1994 (21)

Birthplace: Stouffville, Ontario (Canada)

Height/Weight: 6’2″/186 lbs.

2015-2016 Team: Carolina Hurricanes (NHL) and/or Charlotte Checkers (AHL)

Scouting Report:

Carrick attended training camp with the Hurricanes and was assigned to AHL affiliate Charlotte to start his first pro season in 2014-15. Seeing steady ice time for the Checkers as a 20-year-old, he has been solid, if not outstanding, in the early part of the season and should develop his game in all three zones as he becomes more accustomed to pro hockey. While he is not expected to have the offensive upside of Ryan Murphy or the size and impact defensive game of Haydn Fleury, fellow Hurricanes’ prospects, he projects to being a solid defender in the future and could fit in well in a second or third pair role in Carolina. (HOCKEY’S FUTURE)

On a disappointing Charlotte Checkers team last year, rookie defenseman Trevor Carrick stood out and might have been the biggest breakout prospect in the Carolina Hurricanes organization.

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The Carolina Hurricanes drafted Carrick in the 4th round (115th overall) in 2012, and his impressive junior hockey career and first season as a pro suggests that he was a steal at that spot in the draft.

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As a rookie in the OHL in 2011-2012, Carrick was named to the Second All-Rookie Team following a 19-point season. He skated in 68 games with the Mississauga Steelheads, then nicknamed the “St. Michael’s Majors.  It would only get much better from there for Trevor Carrick, however.

In 2012-2013, Carrick improved in all areas, nearly doubling his goal total and seeing a big increase in point production and responsibilities with the Steelheads. He picked up 31 points in just 56 games.

The 2013-2014 season would be the final year of Carrick’s 3-year OHL stint, and it was split between the Steelheads and the Sudbury Wolves. He would go on to have his best season yet, tallying a remarkable 22 goals and 51 points in 70 games from the blue line. He played a massive role in all areas for both Mississauga and Sudbury. He also racked up a career-high 117 penalty minutes.

After coming up big in his final year of OHL eligibility, Carrick busted on to the scene as Charlotte’s best defenseman as a 20-year-old rookie last season.

Carrick played in all 76 games with the Checkers, finishing third on the team in points and first among Charlotte defensemen. He netted 7 goals and tallied 32 points, and he also spent 94 minutes in the penalty box, which ranked 5th on the club. He spent a lot of time manning the point on the powerplay, as well as seeing penalty kill time, though in a lesser role compared to his powerplay and even strength time.

Ultimately, what was so impressive about Carrick’s rookie year was how easily he transitioned to the professional game, playing against older, bigger, and more experience players that he had ever gone against. He was able to fast track to the AHL, but now the question is if he can do that now to the NHL.

Carrick will be among the many defensemen that will compete for a spot in the NHL this season, but although he had a great rookie season in the AHL, the Hurricanes should avoid rushing him. He emerged as a top prospect in the organization last year, the worst thing the club can do now is ruin that development by pushing him into a situation that he can’t handle. On the flip side of that, if he is legitimately ready, he should get that opportunity.

Trevor Carrick still has some things that he needs to straighten out in his game. He still has some work to do on defensive positioning and being in the right places, and at just 186 pounds, he still needs to put on some weight to his 6’2” frame in order to be as effective as possible at the AHL and NHL levels.

Carolina Hurricanes

Carrick has the tools of a fantastic two-way defenseman. Entering his rookie season, he was projected to be more of a defensive minded blue liner, and not many expected the big offensive numbers to carry over, but they did. So that means he has the tools of both a good offensive and defensive defenseman.

In an organization with plenty of good two-way defenseman, Trevor Carrick stands out as one of the best ones. He doesn’t have the potential offensive upside of Ryan Murphy, and he doesn’t have the potential defensive upside of Haydn Fleury or Brett Pesce, but he is very close to all of them in those regards, which will make him a great option in the future as an all-around player. All that, combined with his ability to play the body and play with an edge, makes him a unique blue liner.

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Down the road, Carrick projects to be a top-four two-way defenseman who can man the powerplay with a very good shot from the offensive blue line.

The Carolina Hurricanes seemingly stole Trevor Carrick in the middle rounds of the 2012 draft, and they have seen him blossom into a legitimate prospect. The future looks to be bright for the Stouffville, Ontario native, but this year will be important for him as he tries to not only replicate, but also improve on last season.

Next: Hurricanes Prospect Keegan Lowe Looks to Follow in Father's Footsteps