When the Rangers traded for Carson Soucy, there was a pretty big groan across most of the fan base. Not because of anything Soucy did other than exist, but because no one understood why the Rangers sacrificed a top-75 pick–the first pick of the 2025 third round (#65)–for a veteran defenseman when they should have been selling. Not only that, but Soucy didn’t move the team forward on paper, let alone on the ice. None of this is Soucy’s fault, mind you, but unfortunately he drew the ire of the fan base.
Carson Soucy actually had one particular skill set that was interesting, and that was his ability to defend zone entries. It actually complemented Adam Fox’s skill set well. To no one’s surprise, in the 165 minutes the duo played together in Soucy’s two half seasons with the Blueshirts, their possession numbers were great.
Unfortunately for Soucy, that was where the positives ended for his stay in New York. The issue wasn’t so much Soucy, but more overall team construction. Soucy was another player who was not a fast skater, leaving the Rangers with more guys who get burned in their own zone. Soucy looked like he was skating in mud, which was impressive since the Rangers weren’t a fast team to begin with.
Soucy skated in 46 games this season with the Blueshirts before being sent down the LIE to the Islanders for a third round pick (#77). In those 46 games, he put up 3-5-8 while playing particularly poorly in his own zone and looking slow and lost. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, not all of this is on Soucy. He was what he was when he was acquired, and it was an ill-advised move.
In the end, Carson Soucy was a body to fill in for the Blueshirts this season. That wasn’t the reason why he was acquired, but with the Rangers in free fall it was the role he filled until he was traded.
Carson Soucy 2025-2026 report card grade: C
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