Just two days after being traded from the Vancouver Canucks to the New York Rangers, Carson Soucy made his debut with the team in Ottawa on Saturday, despite only meeting the team and staff hours before hitting the ice.
After a brief introduction to the defensive pairings, systems, and expectations, the veteran defenseman had a solid performance against the Senators, even scoring the first goal of the game.
“Not bad, unfortunately not the win, but felt better as the game went on,” Soucy said after the game. “I think some things are just going to take a little bit of time to get used to, just systems changes. Overall, for the first game, I thought it went pretty well.”
Soucy played 15:39 in the 4-3 overtime loss, pairing with Zac Jones at even strength and contributing 43 seconds of penalty kill time. This pairing could prove effective for the Rangers, as Soucy is a defensive-minded player with a big frame (6-foot-5, 208 pounds), while Jones is a smaller, offensive-focused puck-moving defenseman.
It’s likely that once Adam Fox returns from his upper-body injury, he will be paired with Soucy.
Soucy’s goal at 8:37 of the first period wasn’t exactly a highlight-reel play, but it was a memorable way for the 30-year-old to be introduced to his new team. His weak shot from the left wing somehow trickled past Senators goalie Linus Ullmark, giving the Rangers a 1-0 lead, and he was quickly surrounded by his new teammates.
Interestingly, Soucy didn’t initially realize he had scored.
“No, I think [Alexis Lafreniere] pointed at it first,” Soucy explained. “Honestly, I wasn’t too pleased with my shot originally, but just trying to get pucks on net. … It’s nice to try and help and contribute in any way. Unfortunately, it’s a loss, but I’ll try to build off it.”
Carson Soucy waived NMC to come to Rangers, push for playoffs
Carson Soucy adds a valuable boost to the Rangers’ defensive depth as they push for a playoff spot, particularly with Adam Fox still on injured reserve. He fits exactly what the Rangers and General Manager Chris Drury were looking for at the trade deadline: a reliable left-shot defenseman to strengthen the back end. Though currently on the third pair, Soucy is capable of stepping into a top-four role and playing more minutes if needed.
The trade for Soucy wasn’t as simple as just sending a third-round pick to the Canucks. Soucy had a no-move clause in his contract, which he had to waive to join the Rangers. This speaks volumes about his willingness to be part of the team.
“There’s definitely multiple factors,” Soucy said about waiving his NMC. “Obviously, a team that wants you, wants to trade for you, is a big part of that. It’s nice having [J.T.] Miller and [Will] Borgen here. We were pretty tight in Seattle. And obviously just New York, playing for the Rangers, playing at Madison Square Garden.”
Soucy reunited with Miller, with whom he played in Vancouver, and Borgen, with whom he formed a solid pairing in Seattle. If coach Peter Laviolette decides to shuffle the defensive pairings later, the familiarity with Borgen could be an interesting option.
For now, Soucy’s focus is on helping the Rangers secure a playoff spot as the regular season winds down. The Rangers made things tougher on themselves by blowing a two-goal lead in the third period on Saturday, eventually losing in overtime. It was their second consecutive blown third-period lead, and both games ended with OT losses, costing them valuable points.
“That last goal is pretty tough,” Soucy said. “Just squirts through pretty much all of our guys and the goalie, so that was kind of tough. Overall, I thought not a bad game.”
Soucy has experience in high-pressure games, having been a key contributor for the Kraken in the 2023 playoffs and for the Canucks last spring. With 38 games of Stanley Cup Playoffs experience, he brings added postseason pedigree to the Rangers, who are aiming for their fourth straight playoff appearance.
Both Soucy and the Rangers will have another opportunity on Sunday night, with an important matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Madison Square Garden. A win would push the Rangers ahead of both Columbus (WC2) and Ottawa (WC1) in the Eastern Conference standings.
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