Connor Carrick

Lore & Background

Connor Carrick began his junior career with the Chicago Fury in AAA hockey, where his sweater number was later retired. He was drafted into the OHL by the Guelph Storm in the 11th round, 212th overall, but chose not to play for them; instead, he spent two years with the US National Team Development Program, competing with the U-17 and U-18 teams. During his second season with the USNTDP, he was traded from Guelph to the Plymouth Whalers for a sixth-round pick and a pair of third-round picks. Carrick won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2013 IIHF World U18 Championship.

After being drafted by the Capitals, Carrick played the 2012–13 season with the Whalers, recording 12 goals and 32 assists for 44 points in 68 games, plus 18 points in 15 playoff games, leading Plymouth in postseason assists with 16. He signed a three-year entry-level contract with Washington on September 23, 2013, and scored his first NHL goal on October 3 in a 5–4 win over the Calgary Flames, splitting the season between the Capitals and the Hershey Bears. On February 28, 2016, he was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs along with Brooks Laich and a 2016 second-round pick for Daniel Winnik and a 2016 fifth-round pick. He later played for the Dallas Stars, New Jersey Devils, Seattle Kraken, Boston Bruins, and Edmonton Oilers before signing with HC Lugano in Switzerland on May 8, 2025.

Reader's Guide

Connor Carrick's career is notable for his journey as a fifth-round draft pick who played for seven NHL organizations over a decade. He scored his first NHL goal in his rookie season with the Capitals and later became a key piece in a trade that sent him to Toronto. While with the Maple Leafs organization, he led the 2016 Calder Cup playoffs in scoring with 18 points in 15 games, including a five-point performance, though the Toronto Marlies were eliminated by the Hershey Bears in the Eastern Conference Finals. Carrick's path included multiple trades and waiver claims, reflecting his role as a depth defenseman who could contribute offensively at the AHL level. He signed a two-year contract with HC Lugano in May 2025, continuing his professional career in Switzerland. His personal life includes marriage to Lexi Solofra in the summer of 2018 and two brothers, Hunter and Blake, who also play hockey.