Carson Soucy Bio
Carson Soucy is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who plays as a defenceman for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected 137th overall by the Minnesota Wild in the 2013 NHL entry draft and has built his career on a steady, physical style of play on the back end. Standing 196 cm (6 ft 5 in) tall and listed at 95 kg (209 lb), Soucy uses his size and reach to match up against opposing forwards in all three zones. Since turning professional in 2017, he has appeared in the NHL for the Minnesota Wild, the Seattle Kraken, the Vancouver Canucks, and the New York Rangers, contributing dependable minutes on defence throughout his career.
Early Life and Background
Carson Soucy was born on July 27, 1994, in Viking, Alberta, Canada. He grew up in the small community of Irma, Alberta, where he was raised by his mother, Debbie, and his father, Mike Soucy. His father has a background in softball, a sport that would later influence Carson’s own athletic development. Soucy also has an older brother, Tyson, who played ice hockey and last suited up for the Elk Point Elks of the SaskAlta Senior Hockey League, giving Carson an early family connection to the game.
As a youth, Soucy competed at the Triple-A midget level in Alberta until he was cut by the Edmonton Oil Kings of the Western Hockey League (WHL) at age 18. After that setback, he joined the Spruce Grove Saints of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) for a season of junior A hockey. During his time with the Saints, Soucy helped the club win both the 2013 AJHL North Division regular season title and the North Division playoff championship. He also represented Canada as an outfielder at the 2012 Junior Men’s Softball World Championship, showing the multi-sport background that shaped his athletic profile.
Path to Professional Hockey
After a six-inch growth spurt that drew attention from American NCAA Division I programs, Soucy committed to play collegiate ice hockey with the Minnesota–Duluth Bulldogs of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC). Heading into the 2013 NHL entry draft, NHL Central Scouting ranked him 137th among North American skaters, and the Minnesota Wild selected him in that same 137th position. His cousin, Parker MacKay, later joined him at Minnesota–Duluth for two seasons, giving Soucy a familiar face during his college years. Unfortunately, his time at Minnesota–Duluth was interrupted when he tore his medial collateral ligament (MCL) shortly after returning from the 2012 junior softball tournament, forcing him to miss several games.
Soucy played four seasons of collegiate hockey with the Bulldogs before signing his first professional contract. On April 11, 2017, at the end of his senior year, he signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Minnesota Wild and was immediately assigned to the Wild’s American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Iowa Wild, to close out the 2016–17 season. That spring step marked the formal beginning of his professional career after years of steady development through junior, college, and international competition.
Carson Soucy Career
Early Career (2017–2019)
Soucy opened his professional career with the Iowa Wild during the 2017–18 AHL season, where he played 67 games and posted 15 points while leading the team with a plus-12 rating. His steady two-way play earned him a recall to the NHL on April 2, 2018, after Minnesota defenceman Ryan Suter went down with an injury. That same night, Soucy made his NHL debut against the Edmonton Oilers, logging 15:26 of ice time, registering three shots on goal, and adding two hits while becoming the fifth player to debut with the Wild that season. He was returned to Iowa on April 6 to finish the year, capping an encouraging first professional campaign.
The following season was more difficult. Soucy did not earn a spot out of Minnesota’s 2018–19 training camp and spent the entire year with the Iowa Wild in the AHL, working on his game and waiting for another opportunity. The patience paid off when he returned to Wild training camp for the 2019–20 season and impressed head coach Bruce Boudreau, who praised Soucy’s aggressive play, puck movement, and defending. During that NHL season Soucy suffered an upper-body injury that was expected to sideline him for two to four weeks, but he recovered to re-establish himself as a regular on Minnesota’s blue line. On October 5, 2020, the Wild rewarded his progress with a three-year, $8.25 million contract extension.
Minnesota Wild Era (2017–2021)
Soucy’s main NHL run with the Minnesota Wild began during the 2019–20 season, when he transitioned from being a depth call-up into a trusted left-shot defenceman. Under Boudreau’s system, he handled tough defensive matchups, leaned on his 196 cm frame to clear the crease, and contributed on the penalty kill. The Wild’s director of player development, Brad Bombardir, had earlier noted that Soucy was one of the most improved players at each development camp, a trajectory that continued into his full-time NHL role. After helping the Wild qualify for the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs in the Edmonton bubble, Soucy cemented his place as a core member of Minnesota’s defence corps heading into 2020–21.
His time in Minnesota ended abruptly on July 21, 2021, when Soucy was selected by the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 NHL expansion draft. The pick was part of Seattle’s roster build, and it signalled a fresh start for Soucy on a brand-new franchise. Across his four seasons in the Minnesota organization, including his AHL development time, Soucy had grown from a late-round draft pick cut by a WHL team into a reliable NHL defenceman. His Wild tenure laid the foundation for the rest of his career and gave him the experience needed to handle the increased responsibility that came next.
Seattle Kraken Era (2021–2023)
Joining the Seattle Kraken for their inaugural 2021–22 season, Soucy was given a meaningful role on a young defence group looking to establish an identity. His size, skating, and left-handed shot were valuable assets as the Kraken built their first rosters in franchise history. Over two seasons in Seattle, he logged steady minutes on the back end, killing penalties, and contributing a physical presence in front of the net.
Although the Kraken were still establishing themselves as a franchise, Soucy’s play stayed consistent, and he became a trusted partner on multiple pairings. By the end of his contract in 2023, he had shown enough to attract attention as an unrestricted free agent. He left Seattle having completed his commitment to the team’s early development and with a track record of dependable NHL minutes.
Vancouver Canucks Era (2023–2025)
On July 1, 2023, Soucy signed a three-year, $9.75 million contract with the Vancouver Canucks as an unrestricted free agent, returning to a Canadian market. The deal reflected his growing reputation as a top-four defenceman capable of logging big minutes in all situations. In Vancouver, he settled into a regular role on the left side of the blue line, playing against opposing teams’ best forwards and contributing on the penalty kill.
Soucy’s tenure in Vancouver lasted less than two full seasons before the club made a significant roster move. On March 6, 2025, he was traded to the New York Rangers in exchange for a conditional 2025 third-round pick, ending his time with the Canucks. The trade marked the third NHL franchise of his career and signalled another opportunity as the NHL season approached its final stretch.
New York Rangers Era (2025–Present)
Carson Soucy joined the New York Rangers in March 2025 and slotted into their defensive group for the run toward the Stanley Cup playoffs. Brought in for his size and defensive reliability, he provided the Rangers with a left-handed presence who could match up against heavier opponents. His familiarity with playoff-style hockey, built during his time in Minnesota and Seattle, made him a natural fit for New York’s late-season push.
Heading into the 2025 off-season, Soucy remains under contract through 2026, giving the Rangers stability on the back end. His combination of size, experience, and a left-handed shot fits the profile of a modern top-four defenceman. The move to New York has positioned him on one of the NHL’s most high-profile stages and opened the door to a deeper playoff run.
Driving Style and Strengths
Soucy’s game is built around his 196 cm frame, long reach, and willingness to engage physically along the boards and in front of the net. He is at his best when he can use his body to separate opponents from the puck and then move it efficiently to his partners to start the breakout. Coaches have repeatedly praised his improvement in puck movement and two-way defending, particularly during his breakthrough 2019–20 season in Minnesota.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining moments of Soucy’s career was his NHL debut on April 2, 2018, against the Edmonton Oilers, where he logged 15:26 of ice time, posted three shots, and delivered two hits while becoming the fifth Minnesota Wild player to debut that season. He was also part of the 2020 Stanley Cup playoff run inside the Edmonton bubble and was selected by the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 NHL expansion draft, two of the more memorable milestones in his career journey.
Carson Soucy Career Wins
Carson Soucy has built a reputation as a steady, top-four defenceman across multiple NHL organizations, with the bulk of his achievements coming on the defensive side of the game. While he is not primarily counted among the league’s top point-producing defencemen, his value to his teams has been measured by reliable minutes, strong penalty killing, and physical play. Over time, he has added multiple seasons of NHL experience to his resume, complementing the championships he helped win at the junior level with the Spruce Grove Saints.
NHL Highlights
Soucy’s most notable NHL highlights include his debut with the Minnesota Wild, his emergence as a full-time NHLer in 2019–20, and his selection by the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 expansion draft. His first full NHL season in Minnesota set the tone for the rest of his career, while later stops in Seattle, Vancouver, and New York gave him chances to play meaningful roles on each roster.
Other Wins and Performances
Before turning professional, Soucy helped the Spruce Grove Saints capture the 2013 AJHL North Division regular season and playoff championships. He also represented Canada as an outfielder at the 2012 Junior Men’s Softball World Championship, an international appearance that showcased his athletic versatility outside of hockey.
Carson Soucy Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Carson Soucy was raised in Irma, Alberta, by his mother, Debbie, and his father, Mike Soucy, who has a background in softball. His older brother, Tyson Soucy, also played ice hockey, last appearing for the Elk Point Elks of the SaskAlta Senior Hockey League. Carson also has a cousin, Parker MacKay, who played alongside him at the University of Minnesota–Duluth for two seasons, extending the family’s connection to competitive hockey.
Personal Life
Carson Soucy is married to his wife, Shyla, and the couple has twin daughters. The family has moved with him throughout his NHL career, from Minnesota to Seattle, Vancouver, and now New York, providing a steady home base as he has progressed through professional hockey.
2025 Season Performance
Carson Soucy’s 2025 season has been defined by the mid-year trade that sent him from the Vancouver Canucks to the New York Rangers on March 6, 2025, in exchange for a conditional 2025 third-round pick. With Vancouver, he had been a regular on the left side of the blue line, logging top-four minutes and contributing on the penalty kill. The trade gave him a chance to join a Rangers team pushing toward the Stanley Cup playoffs and added a fresh chapter to his season.
Since arriving in New York, Soucy has brought his usual combination of size, reach, and defensive responsibility to the Rangers’ back end. His left-handed shot has helped balance the defensive pairings, and his willingness to engage physically has been a fit for New York’s playoff-style approach. The Rangers’ outlook with Soucy on board pointed toward a deeper post-season run.
Looking at the rest of 2025, Soucy remains under contract through 2026, which gives the Rangers stability on defence heading into the next NHL campaign. With full training camp ahead of him in New York, he has an opportunity to lock down a regular top-four role and build further chemistry with his new team. His track record of steady defensive play suggests he will be a reliable piece of the Rangers’ plans.