The Toronto Maple Leafs have re-signed restricted free agent defenseman Connor Carrick to a one-year contract worth $1.3 million. Carrick will be a restricted free agent again next summer.
The @MapleLeafs announced today that the hockey club has signed defenceman Connor Carrick to a one-year contract
— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) June 20, 2018
The one-year contract is worth $1.3 million. #TMLTalk
— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) June 20, 2018
Connor Carrick Re-Signs With the Toronto Maple Leafs
Over his four-year NHL career, Carrick has played for the Washington Capitals and the Toronto Maple Leafs. He has put up nine goals and 21 assists for 30 career points in 167 career NHL games. Carrick has also played six career Stanley Cup Playoff games but has yet to record a point. He was originally drafted in the 5th round, 137th overall of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the Capitals.
Last season, he scored four goals and eight assists for 12 points in 47 games played. He also added 27 minutes in penalties. His possession numbers were 52.6 percent Corsi For and a relative Corsi of +3.2.
What This Means for the Future
For the Leafs to re-sign Carrick is very smart for the team. The Leafs are very clearly weak on their right side defense, and with Carrick back with the group, it gives them something, anything, to work with. Carrick has had some trouble last season staying in the lineup after Roman Polak was signed mid-season. He drew in most of his 47 games before that time or during the Nikita Zaitsev injury, or to only give players rest. He was the Leafs staple number seven defenseman. Carrick did not play in the Leafs first-round playoff loss to the Boston Bruins. Moving forward, he should be challenging for a more regular spot on the bottom pairing.
Main Photo: TORONTO, ON – APRIL 09: Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Connor Carrick (8) skates during the warm-up before a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on April 9, 2017, at Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Columbus Blue Jackets won 3-2. (Photo by Nick Turchiaro/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
