Nashville Predators ' defenseman Alexandre Carrier is having a strong 2023-2024 season already setting a new career high in goals and ranking second on the team in blocked shots. Carrier and defensive partner Jeremy Lauzon have become one of Nashville's most reliable pairings spending time on the ice against some of the league's top lines. His performance and status as a pending UFA have made Carrier the topic of recent trade rumors.
Before the All Star break, the 27-year-old Quebec native shared his answers to five quick questions.
What is one word to describe your season so far?
"I'll say 'healthy'", Carrier said. "Been hurt a lot last year. It's been nice to be able to be healthy."
Last season Carrier missed 39 games with injuries. He was injured fighting Logan Stanley on January 24, 2023 and played just a handful of games upon his return before being hit in the collarbone with a puck and missing the remainder of the season.
Carrier has played 46 games so far this season but only one game due to injury. He left Monday night's game against the Florida Panthers in the second period and didn't return. Head coach Andrew Brunette called him a "game time decision" for Wednesday's game against the LA Kings, but Carrier did not play. After the long break, it is likely Carrier will be available to play when the Predators face the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday night.
What is something you do every game day?
Carrier is a creature of habit when it comes to his game day meal.
"Same pregame meal, so I eat the same thing every day," Carrier said.
The details?
"I'm going to eat sweet potatoes with brown rice and salmon and a salad."
If you could change or clarify one rule in the league, what would it be and why?
"There's two," Carrier said immediately.
"The offside rule I think sometimes takes forever, and I don't think it impacts the game that much sometimes," Carrier said.
"And then the secondary assists," he added. "Sometimes the other D just touches it little bit, the other team just touches it but it doesn't impact the game, and nobody gets assists."
"I would change that."
If you have down time, are you more likely to read a book, listen to music, of watch a show?
"Listen to music or watch a show," Carrier said.
Carrier has an eclectic taste in music listening to hip hop, house music, and country ("obviously being in Nashville" he said).
Right now Carrier is binge watching Entourage again. He'll put it on in the background while he is cooking or doing things around the house.
"Just casual, you know. You don't need to be focusing, but it makes me laugh," Carrier said.
What's your favorite hockey memory?
"My draft," Carrier said.
"My whole family was there and I got to share that memory with all of them."
While some players spend their draft day full of nerves, Carrier said he had just a little bit nervous waiting for his name to be called.
"I was a little bit nervous, but in my head I was like 'I'm going in the fourth round', and I ended up going in the fourth round. It if would have been past that, I guess I would have started to get the shakes, so that was good."
Carrier was drafted in 2015 by the Nashville Predators in the fourth round with teammates Yakov Trenin and Tommy Novak. The Predators also drafted Anthony Richard (Providence Bruins), Karel Velmelka (Arizona Coyotes), and Tyler Moy (SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers).
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