Oilers’ Sam Carrick Building Trust with New Team Since Deadline

The Edmonton Oilers have proven they are going all-in this season and made their intentions known with the acquisitions of Adam Henrique and Sam Carrick. While they have now each played several games and have been playing well in their roles with their new teams, Carrick has been standing out in a big way for many reasons. Henrique was acquired to add depth as an established two-way forward who had been solid with the Anaheim Ducks this season, and Carrick was brought in as someone to add internal competition and bring a physical game to the bottom six. Carrick dropped the gloves in his first game with the Oilers and, since then, has proven himself to be a strong addition who should be able to help them make a deep playoff run.

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In the Oilers’ recent game against the Colorado Avalanche, Henrique was quiet offensively but made a huge difference defensively. Carrick was, surprisingly, the opposite. Carrick scored the goal that put the Oilers up 2-1 over the Avalanche, and while the Avalanche ended up winning in overtime, he was being used all over the ice. With how strong he has been in the faceoff circle this season, Carrick was used in every zone to take faceoffs throughout the entire game, and his success made a big difference. The Oilers will be able to utilize his ability to win the majority of his faceoffs moving forward, and he continues to prove he can be trusted consistently.

Since joining the Oilers, Carrick has won an impressive 65.7% of his faceoffs. He wasn’t brought in to be an offensive producer by any means, but if he can start to find some confidence with the puck on his stick, his role will only grow with the team. Carrick has quickly earned the trust of his coaches as he continues to be put out in defensive situations, and he has earned a couple of shifts with the top six. Carrick is playing at an elevated level as a pending unrestricted free agent and trying to earn a new deal. If he keeps playing like this into the playoffs, the Oilers should be trying to lock him up with a new contract.

Could Carrick Be Another Klim Kostin?

While Carrick has been really good since joining the Oilers, there is someone else that fans may remember that could be compared to him. Klim Kostin was acquired by the Oilers from the St. Louis Blues last season in exchange for Dmitri Samorukov in a deal that was viewed as…