In the second installment of my call-up report cards, I move to the blue line and focus on Alexandre Carrier and the recent free agency departure, Steven Santini. Of course, NHL data referenced below is largely unimportant given the minor sample size we have for both players.
Related
2019-20 Predators Player Report Cards: Mathieu Olivier & Anthony Richard
NHL Call-Up
Alexandre Carrier: Carrier appeared in just three games last season for Nashville at the start of the new year, averaging a little over ten minutes of ice time per night. His only appearances on the scoresheet were one minor penalty and four total shots on net.
Nearly all of Carrier’s ice time came at five-on-five, and he impressed with a 60.61% Corsi rate while allowing just five high-danger shot attempts against and starting an equal number of shifts in the offensive (6) and defensive (6) zones.
Steven Santini: Santini, who recently signed a one-year, two-way contract with the St. Louis Blues, skated in two games for Nashville in November, registering one shot on goal and one minor penalty in under ten minutes ice time each night.
At even-strength, Santini registered a 55.56% Corsi rate but gave up four high-danger shot attempts while being on ice in exchange for just two in Nashville’s favor.
AHL Résumé
Carrier: The 2015 fourth-round pick led all Milwaukee defenders in scoring with 37 points (two shy of his career best) and managed well having to play alongside Jarred Tinordi or Ben Harpur for most of the season. Just 14 of Carrier’s points were primary ones scored at even-strength. Per usual, he produced most on the power play, but those 14 points were still second among defenders.
Despite his offensive production, Carrier was only seventh among Milwaukee defenders with a 50.38% Corsi rate at five-on-five. He also struggled in transition (mostly due to his skating deficiencies) and allowed opponents to enter the defensive zone with possession 49.21% of the time.
Santini: Playing primarily alongside Jérémy Davies, Santini recorded just 12 points for Milwaukee last year (fifth among defenders), including six primary points at even strength. Additionally, Santini allowed 2.31 goals against per 60 minutes of five-on-five play, which was second-worst among regular Milwaukee defenders, behind Ben Harpur.
Santini was a high-volume shot-attempt player at both ends of the ice. Milwaukee recorded 67.24 shot attempts per 60 minutes while he was on the ice, but they also allowed 53.51 shot attempts during those minutes. He also allowed 4.929 high-danger shot attempts per 60 minutes, which was third-worst among Milwaukee’s regular defenders.
NHL Future
Carrier: When Nashville was knocked out of the playoffs, it seemed like Carrier had a spot on Nashville’s roster locked up for next season, as David Poile has repeatedly praised his NHL readiness. But after adding two defenders in free agency and factoring in Jarred Tinordi, it’s unclear whether Nashville will carry him as an extra defender or if he’ll start the year in Milwaukee.
At any rate, Carrier—at age 24—needs to be playing serious minutes in the NHL this year if Nashville is serious about his development.
Santini: This point is moot. Nashville clear didn’t see Santini in their future plans after last season (it remains to be seen if they did at any point), and Milwaukee has the skaters to fill any hole he’s left.
Final Grade
Carrier: B
In his limited minutes, Carrier was impressive and gave potential to the idea he could be a suitable third-pairing defender in the NHL. Of course, more minutes will present more challenges, but he was a net positive in his time in Nashville.
What grade would you give Carrier’s 2019-20 season?
| A | 2 |
| B | 14 |
| C | 10 |
| D | 0 |
| F | 0 |
Santini: C
There’s almost nothing to grade Santini on. He wasn’t particularly outstanding one way or the other.
What grade would you give Santini’s 2019-20 season?
| A | 0 |
| B | 0 |
| C | 7 |
| D | 14 |
| F | 4 |
All statistics are courtesy of eliteprospects.com, naturalstattrick.com, evolving-hockey.com, or tracked by myself.