William Carrier
Position: Left Wing
Age: 20
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 195 lbs.
2014-15 team: Rochester (AHL)
Acquired: Traded from the Blues along with Chris Stewart, Jaroslav Halak, a first-round pick and a second round pick for Ryan Miller and Steve Ott
Last year’s ranking: Not ranked
Carrier is in many ways the epitome of a C level prospect. Acquired in the Miller and Ott trade, which already feels like quite a long time ago, he was a nice throw in player that could possibly turn into something. He had impressive numbers in the goal-heavy Q, but has been pretty polarizing among scouts. He’s the type of player that could turn out to be something, but if he ends up being a career AHLer, you wouldn’t really be surprised or frustrated.
This season was Carrier’s first with the Americans, and he had a decent but not eye popping rookie season. He was twelth on the team in scoring, but first among rookies (not that it was an incredibly impressive competition). It’s good to remember that the point total in a players rookie year isn’t always a telltale sign of his future production. Zemgus Girgensons only had 17 points in his first year with the Amerks.
In juniors Carrier was second on a lackluster Cape Brenton team in scoring the year before the Sabres acquired him. A former second-round pick, Carrier improved his point total in his final junior year by 23 points.
Carrier is a gritty winger whose best tool is his powerful shot. He projects as a power forward, but as Corey Pronman said in his Sabres prospect rankings earlier this week, it’s tough to tell if he’s a top-six or bottom-six player. Gaining consistency in his play may be what solidifies his spot in the organization.
Check out more from the Top 25 Under 25 series here.