Buffalo Sabres · Center · Shoots R

Sam Carrick

Age 34 · 6'0" · 209 lb · Born in Stouffville, CAN

Cap hit

$1M

1.0% of $104M cap

Term

1 yr

Through 2026-27, then UFA

Clause

None

Surplus value

—

arrives with the trade tools

Confirmed by the public signing announcement · source

2026-27 regular season

Goals

Assists

0 primary

Points

0.00 per game

TOI/GP

7:43

PP 0:00 · PK 0:22

xGF%

29.0

5v5, -18.8 vs. last yr

Game Score

-0.12

per game, goals above average

Faceoff %

—

4 W · 6 L

Plus/minus

-2

Blocks 0 · Hits 1

Game log

Last 5 games · NHL API

Game	SOG	HIT	TOI	PP	PK	FO	OZS%	GV	TK	+/-	GS
Oct 1 @ CBJ · L 6-3	0	1	7:43	0:00	0:22	4-6	29	1	0	-2	-0.12
May 10 @ MTL · L 6-2	2	0	6:17	0:00	0:18	2-6	0	0	0	0	-0.21
Mar 31 vs NYI · W 4-3	1	1	6:47	0:00	0:17	4-5	100	0	0	0	-0.24
Mar 28 vs SEA · W 3-2	2	3	10:50	0:00	1:59	14-4	75	1	1	0	-0.20
Mar 27 vs DET · L 5-2	0	2	6:46	0:00	0:05	2-2	100	0	0	0	-0.14

GS = our Game Score, goals above average. FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.

Advanced metrics

5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 680 min · percentile vs. NHL forwards

xGF%47.8%

38th percentile

Relative xGF%-1.6

39th percentile

HDCF%55.8%

81st percentile

CF%47.9%

37th percentile

Relative CF%-2.3

29th percentile

FF%47.2%

31st percentile

GF%48.9%

47th percentile

CF/6054.5

41st percentile

CA/6059.2

36th percentile

ixG/600.69

22nd percentile

Goals above expected+1.2

72nd percentile

IPP56.5%

27th percentile

PDO100.9

65th percentile

OZS%29.1%

6th percentile

xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.

Play styleDefensive grind-line center

Trait percentiles vs. NHL centers · 2025-26

Carrick is a physical, relentless forechecking center who generates consistent pressure without the puck but struggles to create scoring chances or execute in transition. His game is built on grinding effort and controlled possession, not playmaking or speed.

Forechecking specialistPhysical presenceDefensive anchor

Shooting volume: 58
Playmaking: 25
Zone entries(est.): 32
Forechecking: 78
Physicality: 78
Defensive impact: 53
Puck management: 75
Speed: 27

Where he shoots from

Slot 45% · Mid-range 22% · Perimeter 33%(118 unblocked shots)

Strengths

78th-percentile forechecking creates immediate pressure for his line
78th-percentile physicality sets physical tone and protects the puck
75th-percentile puck management keeps possession in play

Watch-outs

25th-percentile playmaking limits his ability to generate quality chances
27th-percentile speed restricts transition and rush opportunities
32nd-percentile zone entries show difficulty attacking quickly off the wing

Similar style: Michael McCarron (MIN), Rodrigo Abols

Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.

Where his Game Score comes from

2025-26 · 73 GP · goals above average

Season total -0.9 goals, or -0.01 per game.

Even strength offense: -0.9
Even strength defense: +0.5
Finishing: +1.2
Playmaking: -2.0
Penalties: -0.2
Faceoffs: +0.5

Game Score adds up a player's impact in goals compared with an average player given the same ice time: his share of expected goals for and against at even strength, on the power play, and on the penalty kill, plus finishing (goals minus expected goals), primary assists, penalties drawn and taken, and faceoffs. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.

By season

Regular season

Season	Team	GP	G	A	P	+/-	SOG	TOI/GP	FO%	GS/GP
2026-27	BUF	1	0	0	0	-2	0	7:43	—	-0.12
2025-26	BUF, NYR	73	9	7	16	+2	75	10:28	54.8%	-0.01
2024-25	NYR	80	6	14	20	+5	84	11:56	54.2%	-0.07
2023-24	ANA, EDM	77	10	6	16	-11	92	12:13	53.4%	-0.08
2022-23	ANA	52	3	4	7	-17	50	10:34	49.3%	-0.15

Sentiment & chatter

Fans

—

Beat writers

—

Media

—

Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.

Age curve

How players at his position age, and where his contract falls on that curve, arrives with the trade tools.

Skating · NHL EDGE

2025-26, as of Oct 2

Top speed: 22.1 mph; 42nd pct
20+ mph bursts: 37
Hardest shot: 85.1 mph; 52nd pct
Distance: 128.2 mi
OZ time: 40.1%; 22nd pct
DZ time: 42.8%