2013 Draft Prospect Profile #32: William Carrier
Our next profile features winger William Carrier of the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles.
Team: Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (QMJHL)
Age: 18
Date of Birth: December 20, 1994
Place of Birth: Pierrefonds, Quebec
Ht: 6'2" Wt: 196lbs
Shoots: Left
You probably haven't heard a lot about Carrier, have you? There are a couple of reasons for that. The first is the fact that in his draft year he missed half of the season with a high-ankle sprain. Another is that he plays in Cape Breton, a relative outpost in the QMJHL. To further add to the lack of exposure, the Eagles have been dreadful since he joined the team back in 2010.
Nonetheless, he's a very good prospect, a player who'll likely go in the second round, but could creep into the first. He's a physical winger with all of the necessary offensive tools. He's got good size and compete, though he admits his skating could use some improvement to excel at the next level.
The Eagles should be a little better next season, but I could see him being traded to a contender at Christmas if the team falters. The NHL team that drafts him will no doubt like to see that happen, though as a one-man show in Cape Breton he's been fantastic.
Scouting Reports:
Carrier had an impressive season despite the mitigating factors of Cape Breton's struggles as a team and a midseason ankle injury, which kept him out for the second half of the campaign. His best skill is his truly plus skating. He has explosiveness with his feet, and he can easily pick up speed and push the pace in transition. He couples speed with offensive ability, as he can be a quality playmaker, with a hard shot. His puck skills, however, are fairly average, and while he has the creativity to make some moves, I would not describe him as an overly fluid or coordinated puck handler. When Carrier is on, he has the physical ability to own the puck and do well along the boards. Consistency is his area of concern. A few sources praise his work ethic and believe it to be plus, while others say he shows a fluctuating willingness to play the body.
- Hockey Prospectus
The physical left winger had a strong 70 point season in 2011-12 and a good playoff. Solid frame,quickness, and big heavy shot. Projects as a bottom end player with scoring ability and upside. Was hampered by a ankle sprain for a significant portion of the schedule. It was easy to see how impacted the way scouts saw his skating ability, but he is a North-South player on a bad team, whose skaating HAS improved a lot. Really strong on the puck, and his skates, with good hands and passing ability. He sees the ice well, and can throw a really hard it too.
- Bill Placzek, Draft Site
Why he'd be a good fit in Columbus:
The Jackets don't really have a physical winger with the offensive talent and size that Carrier brings. If he's available when the Jackets pick in the second round, or if the draft falls in such a way that he's the BPA at 27, the Jackets would be wise to scoop him up. If he played a full season on a better team, I don't think there's any way he wouldn't be a first round pick.
Carrier in Action:
Video courtesy of YouTube user DumbassShello