Columbus Blue Jackets · Defense · Shoots L

Carson Soucy

Age 32 · 6'5" · 207 lb · Born in Viking, CAN

Cap hit

$1.15M

1.1% of $104M cap

Term

1 yr

Through 2026-27, then UFA

Clause

None

Surplus value

+$2.942M

vs. $4.092M market estimate

Confirmed by the public signing announcement · source

2026-27 regular season

Goals

0.0% shooting

Assists

0 primary

Points

0.00 per game

TOI/GP

20:15

PP 0:05 · PK 1:53

xGF%

50.8

5v5, +5.8 vs. last yr

Game Score

-0.29

per game, goals above average

Faceoff %

—

Plus/minus

Blocks 2 · Hits 2

Game log

Last 5 games · NHL API

Game	SOG	HIT	BLK	TOI	PP	PK	FO	OZS%	GV	TK	+/-	GS
Oct 1 vs BUF · W 6-3	2	2	2	20:15	0:05	1:53	—	50	0	0	+1	-0.29
Apr 14 vs CAR · L 2-1	2	2	0	15:44	0:00	1:10	—	0	3	0	0	-0.36
Apr 12 vs MTL · L 4-1	0	2	0	12:40	0:00	0:34	—	50	0	1	-1	+0.23
Apr 11 vs OTT · L 3-0	0	1	1	14:20	0:00	2:51	—	100	1	0	0	-0.18
Apr 9 vs TOR · W 5-3	0	1	1	14:02	0:25	0:00	—	100	0	0	-1	-0.13

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 · 1,110 min · percentile vs. NHL defensemen

xGF%45.0%

18th percentile

Relative xGF%-4.3

17th percentile

HDCF%40.9%

12th percentile

CF%46.5%

23rd percentile

Relative CF%-4.3

15th percentile

FF%45.8%

19th percentile

GF%44.3%

25th percentile

CF/6051.9

24th percentile

CA/6059.7

36th percentile

ixG/600.20

48th percentile

Goals above expected+1.3

73rd percentile

IPP31.4%

38th percentile

PDO99.6

42nd percentile

OZS%41.1%

29th 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 stylePhysical shutdown defenseman

Trait percentiles vs. NHL defensemen · 2025-26

Soucy is a hard-hitting, defensively engaged defenseman who plays a grinding, physical brand of hockey. His limited offensive skill and shot-averse approach mean he won't generate chances himself, but he'll keep things tight in his end.

PhysicalDefensiveGrinding

Shooting volume: 25
Playmaking: 17
Zone entries(est.): 57
Forechecking: 61
Physicality: 76
Defensive impact: 48
Puck management: 23
Speed: 20

Where he shoots from

Slot 14% · Mid-range 20% · Perimeter 66%(95 unblocked shots)

Strengths

Physicality at 76th percentile brings legitimate jam to his game
Forechecking at 61st percentile shows active penalty-killing and defensive commitment
Adequate rush chance creation at 57th percentile moves the puck forward

Watch-outs

Playmaking at 17th percentile limits his ability to orchestrate offense
Puck management at 23rd percentile means turnovers under pressure
Speed at 20th percentile constrains his transition game and gap control

Similar style: Ryan Lindgren (SEA), Joel Hanley (CGY)

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 · 76 GP · goals above average

Season total -6.0 goals, or -0.08 per game.

Even strength offense: -1.6
Even strength defense: -0.2
Power play: -0.1
Penalty kill: +0.2
Finishing: +1.3
Playmaking: -2.6
Penalties: -3.0

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	CBJ	1	0	0	0	+1	2	20:15	—	-0.29
2025-26	NYI, NYR	76	5	7	12	-6	62	16:31	—	-0.08
2024-25	NYR, VAN	75	4	9	13	-11	81	17:55	—	-0.11
2023-24	VAN	40	2	4	6	+10	29	17:29	—	+0.01
2022-23	SEA	78	3	13	16	+18	87	16:18	—	-0.06

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

NHL defensemen · production index

202937

At 32, defensemen typically produce 81% of their peak (age 24).

From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.

Skating · NHL EDGE

2025-26, as of Oct 2

Top speed: 21.1 mph; 31st pct
20+ mph bursts: 9
Hardest shot: 92.2 mph; 60th pct
Distance: 183.3 mi
OZ time: 41.0%; 40th pct
DZ time: 41.2%