Sam Carrick joined the Rangers before the 2024-2025 season to stabilize the fourth line after a run to the Eastern Conference Final. His three-year deal initially seemed excessive, but his value increased over time. In his first season, he produced career highs with 14 assists and 20 points while playing a role that emphasized defense rather than scoring. In 2025-2026, he continued in a fourth-line position with rotating wingers and remained a premier forechecker and difficult opponent. He started just over 70% of shifts in defensive or neutral zones, pushed play up the ice, and delivered a net-positive 5v5 defensive rating for a $1 million cap hit while serving as a top penalty killer.
"For just $1 million, Carrick played to a net-positive defensive rating at 5v5 while serving as one of the Rangers' top penalty killers. Sam Carrick's 2025-2026 season was one of maybe three bright spots, alongside Mika Zibanejad's resurgence and the vibe change at the end of the season."
"No one is writing home about Carrick's offense. He was brought on to be a premier forechecker and a pain to play against. Carrick's role was almost purely defensive, starting a shade over 70% of his shifts in the defensive or neutral zones. Yet he routinely pushed play up the ice and, on a team with questionable defense at best, was as consistent as you can get in that role."
"Never a goal scorer of offensive player, Carrick's first season with the Rangers led to career highs in assists (14) and points (20). In 2025-2026, Carrick was on pace to hit those number again in a fourth line role with a rotating cavalry of wingers ranging from Adam Edstrom and Matt Rempe to veterans Taylor Raddysh and Jonny Brodzinski, depending on the day."
"The fact that Carrick did what he did, given the quality of the team as a whole and of his linemates, is a borderline miracle. Carrick's top four linemates were Raddysh (222 mins), Edstrom (195 mins), Rempe (183 mins), and Brodzinski (151 mins). No other Rangers forward cleared 50 minutes with Carrick, and none of that quartet are considered solid fourth liners. There's a strong argument that most aren't even NHLers, though injuries do play a role"
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