Washington Capitals‘ 5th round pick in the 2012 draft (#137 overall) defenseman Connor Carrick(25) is having himself an outstanding sophomore season on reassignment with affiliate Hershey Bears.
Even though he split time with the parent club and was injured for a good amount of time in his rookie year, his totals are still well beyond what he looked to post in 2013/2014.
In 40 AHL games he has 6 goals and 21 assists but is a lowly -13 rating on a good team. His play was good enough for a replacement nod at the All-Star Game.
The not huge 5’11” 185 lbs. blue liner started with a few games in the NHL before being reassigned to the farm club but was recalled once he was ready to go again after recovering from an injury that sidelined him for a significant time.
Up with the big club he appeared in 34 games scoring his first goal and adding 5 assists but was a -9 plus/minus.
The 20-year old took a bit of an unlikely, quick route to turning pro. Upon being selected after his second season in the USHL he went on to only one campaign with Plymouth Whalers of the OHL before signing his 3-year entry level deal through 2016.
He’ll definitely have to continue to play excellent hockey in the minors and take his game to the next level when he gets back up with the big club to achieve what is projected of the deep draft selection.