Carson Soucy

Age: 27

Team: Seattle Kraken

2021-22 season: 10 Goals, 11 Assists, 21 Points

Salary Cap Hit: $2.75 Million

The 27-year-old Carson Soucy has played four years in the NHL. Drafted in the fifth round (13th overall) by the Minnesota Wild, the Alberta native has produced more in each passing year, with the 2021-22 season being his best season so far.

His 10 goals led all Seattle Kraken defensemen and what’s more impressive is that his 17:40 ATOI ranked seventh amongst the defensive group. He increased his shot output from 85 in the shortened 2020-21 season to 169 this past season (career-high). He set a new career-high in blocks (73) and hits (118), as he used his 6’5, 211 lb frame to his advantage.

Soucy started the season as the sixth or seventh defenseman on the newest NHL club but outperformed expectations, as he finished the season on the second defensive pairing and the top power-play unit and penalty-kill unit.

While Soucy was on the ice at five-on-five, the Seattle Kraken outshot their opponents 468-430 but were outscored 40-39. Do not take the goals against into consideration, as netminder Philipp Grubauer owned a league-worst -25.51 GSAA.

Soucy’s vision, mixed with his shot and reliability on defense would be a perfect match alongside Noah Dobson.

Having Ryan Pulock, Adam Pelech, Carson Soucy, and Noah Dobson while also having Scott Mayfield makes the Islanders defense a force with just one more defenseman needed if youngster Robin Salo is not believed to be ready for full NHL duty.

To acquire Soucy, the New York Islanders would likely need to part ways with a mid-round pick, let’s say a third-rounder. The Seattle Kraken botched their expansion draft and will likely not be competitive in 2022-23, so moving pieces to cooperate draft capital is a smart decision.