Both players are great fits in Laviolette’s attacking, speed-based system. Alexandre Carrier is a great skater and can move the puck up the ice with excellent vision and passing while also not giving much up on the back end. Anthony Richard is possibly the fastest player in the Predators’ prospect pool, he plays an aggressive and skilled game, and he likes to put the puck in the back of the net; made evident by his scoring prowess in the Major Junior.
Because both Carrier and Richard turn 20 before December 2016, they will be eligible to play for the Milwaukee Admirals in the 2016-2017 season. Prior to that, expect both players to provide more man-power to the Ads’ playoff race this spring; likely the reason the Predators are giving them contracts now.
Alexandre Carrier press release via NashvillePredators.com:
Nashville, Tenn. (November 12, 2015) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced Thursday that the club has signed 2015 fourth-round selection (115th overall) Alexandre Carrier to a three-year entry-level contract.
Carrier, 19 (10/8/96), is currently tied for 12th among QMJHL defensemen in points (3g-12a-15pts), and 11th in assists, through 17 games for the Gatineau Olympiques in 2015-16. The Quebec, Quebec native ranked third in points (12g-43a-55pts), tied for second in assists and tied for 10th in goals among QMJHL blueliners during his draft-eligible season in 2014-15, earning QMJHL Second All-Star Team honors.
“He’s really built as a defenseman for the way the game is played today,” Predators Chief Amateur Scout Jeff Kealty said. “He’s a very good skater, he’s great on his edges and he’s got terrific hockey sense. He moves the puck real well, he can get up in the offense and he can play defensively. He’s not the biggest guy but he uses that sense and instinct to defend with his stick and his angles. He’s got all sorts of character and leadership. He’s the captain of the team in Gatineau and plays huge minutes in all situations so we just think he’s going to get better and better. If he continues to grow and get stronger, he could turn into a terrific player.”
The 5-foot-11, 174-pound Carrier helped Team Canada to the Gold Medal at the 2013 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, and a bronze medal at the 2014 Under-18 World Championship. His brother, Samuel, was a sixth-round selection (176th overall) by the Washington Capitals in the 2010 Draft.
Anthony Richard press release via NashvillePredators.com:
Nashville, Tenn. (November 13, 2015) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced Friday that the club has signed 2015 fourth-round selection (100th overall) Anthony Richard (AN-thuh-nee rih-SHAHRD) to a three-year entry-level contract.
Richard, 18 (12/20/96), is ranked among the Top 10 QMJHL skaters in goals (sixth, 16), points (eighth, 34) and assists (10th, 18) through 22 games in 2015-16, while also leading the league in game-winning goals (5) and shots on goal (103) in his fourth season with the Val-d’Or Foreurs. The 5-foot-10, 163-pound center, who has seven points (3g-4a) in his last three games, and was recently named the QMJHL’s third star of the month for October after posting 24 points (11g-13a) in 14 games.
A native of Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, Richard ranked eighth in the QMJHL in goals (43) and tied for eighth in league points a season ago, then tied for third in the 2015 QMJHL Playoffs in goals (12) and ranked ninth in postseason points (22) as the Foreurs advanced to the league semifinals. In his first full season with Val-d’Or in 2013-14, he helped the club win the 2014 President’s Cup and advance to the Memorial Cup, ranking fourth on the team and tying for seventh among all skaters in postseason goals (10).