Canucks: Carson Soucy's journey from WHL lower to reliable NHL defenceman

Article content material

Carson Soucy has proved a lower above to carve out an NHL profession, however first he needed to get lower.

Article content material

It’s a great distance from being a wide-eyed teenager and proven the exit door by the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL to signing a three-year, $9.75 million free-agent contract with the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday.

Article content material

“I wasn’t actually shocked,” Soucy recalled Sunday of the Oil Kings rejection. “I nonetheless didn’t suppose hockey was sort of the longer term for me. I used to be invited from a triple-A Midget camp and thought I had no probability of constructing it.

“I had a greater probability at making a Junior A membership (Spruce Grove Kings, AJHL) as a result of I had not even gone by way of my progress spurt but and I used to be just a little smaller. However I beloved enjoying hockey and thought it was cool to have an opportunity to go to that Oil Kings camp.”

He was proper about these WHL camp odds. The Oil Kings have been deep on the again finish and Griffin Reinhart would turn out to be the fourth general decide by the New York Islanders in 2012. That staff additionally had former Canucks blueliner Ashton Sautner.

Article content material

Article content material

Nevertheless, when Soucy had a progress spurt of 5 inches over one summer season, he had a special stature and totally different outlook. The College of Minnesota-Duluth got here calling and so would the Minnesota Wild as a fifth-round decide within the 2013 draft.

And even when Soucy wasn’t protected within the Seattle Kraken growth draft, there was all the time a thought that the 6-foot-5, 210-pound defender had extra to provide. This previous season proved it.

As a dependable presence, who can play both aspect within the bottom-four combine, he used his body to keep off the opposition and play with an edge. He proved a stable third pairing with Justin Schultz to assist the Kraken upset the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche within the first playoff spherical.

Article content material

Soucy, 28, was third amongst membership defenders in hits and shot blocks. His 52.1. per cent Corsi-For ranking for puck management, when deployed in 16:18 of common ice time, was fourth amongst staff blueliners. He doesn’t scream offence with 16 factors (3-13) this season, however he did have 10 objectives in 2021-22.

Soucy’s sturdy playoff piqued the Canucks’ curiosity to get greater and higher on the again finish.

“It’s laborious to say why as a result of I didn’t have my greatest season,” stated Soucy. “I simply acquired off to a sluggish begin and misplaced just a little little bit of confidence. Within the playoffs, I simply sort of acquired again to my recreation and was bodily and enjoying assured and becoming a member of the frenzy once I may.

“I simply acquired having fun with the playoff environment and it simply introduced out the higher elements. The depth of each night time was good for my recreation.”

Article content material

What Soucy sees in Vancouver is rising potential. In three years when he’ll once more be on the contract crossroads, Elias Peterson might be 26 years outdated and Quinn Hughes might be 25. By then, the Canucks might need an even bigger swagger.

“I’ve been round sufficient and I wish to be on a aggressive staff,” pressured Soucy. “Vancouver had our quantity in Seattle they usually play laborious. And with that younger expertise, hopefully we take an enormous step subsequent 12 months and hope to make the playoffs.

“And when these guys are of their prime, we’ll hopefully have some good runs.”

On a private degree, Soucy is buoyed by a chance to work with assistant coaches Adam Foote and Sergei Gonchar to continue to grow his recreation.

“One of many huge causes I used to be completely happy to come back to Vancouver was having an opportunity to be taught from legendary defencemen,” he stated. “I wish to decide their brains as to what I can do higher and what we are able to do as a D-core to assist this staff group and discover our manner.”

Article content material

Hirose indicators two-year contract

Akito Hirose put in a growth camp session Sunday after which put pen to paper.

His two-year deal, US$1.75 million deal is a two-way in Yr 1 and one-way in Yr 2. Yr 1 pays $350,000 within the minors.

“Akito was a welcome addition to our group on the finish of final season and we’re excited to have him again with the group for 2 extra years,” Canucks basic manger Patrik Allvin stated in an announcement. “He had a robust end to his faculty profession after which held his personal enjoying seven NHL video games in opposition to some top-end expertise. ”

Hirose, 24, appeared in Vancouver’s last seven video games of final season after signing a one-year cope with the membership on March 29. In these seven video games, Hirose had three factors (0-3), 4 penalty minutes and 4 photographs on aim.

Article content material

The 6-foot, 170-pound left-shot defenceman had his first two profession NHL factors in simply his third profession recreation on April 6 in opposition to Chicago, amassing an help on the game-winning aim and including an influence play helper.

Earlier than signing with Vancouver, Hirose accomplished his third season of school hockey with Minnesota State Mankato, registering 27 factors (4-23) and 18 penalty minutes in 38 video games performed to rank second amongst MSU defencemen in each assists and factors.

[email protected]
twitter.com/benkuzma

Article content material