One could make the argument that IF there were an area the Golden knights had a weakness this past season, it was their lack of size. For the most part, it didn’t matter because the Knights were so quick that they just skated by everyone. However, Knights general manager George McPhee is continuing to address this issue in offseason. The Vegas Golden Knights announced returning left winger William Carrier has received a two-year contract worth $775,000 per season.
A former second round draft pick by the Blues, Carrier has been hampered by injuries so far in his brief NHL career, but was a positive presence on the ice this season. Coming from a fourth line winger, that’s a rare attribute in this league. He played in only 37 regular season games, just four less than his first season in Buffalo, and only posted a whopping three points (1 goal, 2 assists).
“William is a fast, physical player who added pace to our lineup last season,” McPhee told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “We are excited about his effectiveness and think he has tremendous upside.”
Carrier’s game is not the goal scoring type, but his physical presence brings with both size and speed to VGK’s 4th line. In many ways, he’s similar to Ryan Reaves, but much younger and maybe a little quicker. Despite playing in only 37 games, Carrier threw 113 hits this season. Only Brayden McNabb, Colin Miller, Deryk Engelland, Nate Schmidt and David Perron hit more than Carrier. All of them played in double the games Carrier did. He can also drop the gloves if needed, too.
Of the Vegas Golden Knights forwards that are returning, William Carrier is the team leader in hits. My personal favorite moment from Carrier this last season was his hit on Ryan Johansen, a Nashville Predator forward with a knack for whining about other teams being too physical against him.
Though Johansen was not severely injured on the hit from Carrier, he might have been day-to-day with hurt feelings. Aw, poor baby.
Even though the Golden Knights do not play a physical game as a team, it is important to have that element to be a complete team from at least some of the players. When guys are skating with their head down, other guys like Carrier and Reaves will make you pay. That opens up the ice for your other play-makers to get quality chances. The speed the Golden Knights play with is what makes them one of the most exciting casual follows in pro sports.
Carrier is not guaranteed a starting spot. He will be competing with around nine other legitimate candidates for three spots on that fourth line, and two of them just signed contracts this offseason themselves in Reaves and Nosek.
Players like Carrier and Reaves are going to take penalties because it’s just apart of their game. But, if they can balance that with baiting other team’s into taking penalties, playing that instigator role, and lay some hard hits out on the ice, it’ll be a force to reckon with.
