Connor Carrick (#58) waits for the puck drop with Tom Wilson and Aaron Volpatti. (Photo credit: Samantha Pyear/Q Net News)
We received this question on Wednesday:
@russianmachine Is Connor Carrick in the same ‘OHL or NHL’ limbo that Wilson is in? — Thomas Martin (@temartin84) September 18, 2013
We’ve got your answer.
Nope! The Washington Capitals have a lot more options with Carrick than they do with Wilson.
This is due to the NHL/CHL agreement, which says a player drafted out of the CHL must be 20 years or older by December 31st of the current season or have played in major juniors for four years to play in the AHL. That’s why Wilson, a veteran of three seasons with Plymouth who will turn 20 on March 29th, 2014, is ineligible to play full-time in the AHL (I say “full-time” because these players are allowed to sign amateur tryout agreements with AHL clubs).
Carrick, on the other hand, was not drafted out of the CHL. At the moment of the Draft, he was committed to the University of Michigan after playing a year in the USHL with the US National Team Development Program. He had said his mom would kill him if he didn’t get a degree. Later, Carrick’s hockey career departed from his education. While still taking classes at Michigan, Carrick de-committed to play for the nearby Plymouth Whalers in the Ontario Hockey League. So, as he wasn’t a member of a CHL team at the time of the Draft, the Caps have the option to send him to the minors.
If Carrick signs and gets sent to Hershey or Reading without playing ten games at the NHL level, his contract will slide– automatically extending one year.
P.S. Thanks to Tim Leone for pointing out Carrick’s eligibility.
Share On