The Nashville Predators have signed 2015 4th round draft pick (115th overall) Alexandre Carrier to a three-year, entry-level contract, the team announced Thursday.
The 19-year-old defenseman is currently playing for the Gatineau Olympiques in the QMJHL, where he has three goals and 12 assists through the season’s first 17 games, tied for 12th among Q d-men.
In the team’s announcement, Chief Amateur Scout Jeff Kealty said, “He’s really built as a defenseman for the way the game is played today. He’s a very good skater, he’s great on his edges and he’s got terrific hockey sense. He moves the puck real well, he can get up in the offense and he can play defensively. He’s not the biggest guy but he uses that sense and instinct to defend with his stick and his angles.”
At 5-foot-11 he’s not a big defender, but he’s used his intelligence and skill to catch the eye of Hockey Canada, helping the national team to a gold medal at the Ivan Hlinka Tournament in 2013 and a bronze in the 2014 U18 World Championship. He’s also on the radar for Team Canada in the 2015 World Junior Championship, after being a part of development camp over the summer.
In his draft year he put up 12 goals and 43 assists through 68 games and has been serving as the team’s alternate captain for three years.
