Nashville Predators Nearing Extension With Alexandre Carrier

It has been a windy road for the Nashville Predators and Alexandre Carrier, but it seems like he will be staying after the sides are close to signing an extension , per Elliotte Friedman.

Carrier was an option to be traded ahead of the trade deadline this year, and while the Predators kept him instead of moving him, no extension was signed, playing out the final games of his contract. This was essentially seen as Nashville using their own player as a rental for a playoff run and Carrier ended up being one of the two best d-men for the Predators during the first-round series with the Vancouver Canucks.

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With all the time to negotiate a new contract, it has come down to the last minute with Carrier and with top free agent defensemen being taken off the board and reportedly signing elsewhere, the Predators are making a good move in keeping what they have.

Carrier is a solid defenseman and shoots right, something that is needed in Nashville with only natural RD's Dante Fabbro and Luke Schenn signed. With or without another addition to the right side of the defense, Carrier should be able to hold a top-4 spot next season and beyond. He has proven he can handle it and deserves the ice time.

Nashville's former fourth-round pick is in his prime at 27 years old and set a career-high in goals (4) and blocked shots (137) last season. He has the ability to put up a respectable amount of points and is able to play physically at times as well.

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Carrier's career-high in points (30) and ATOI (20:59) both came in 2021-22, his rookie year, when he broke out. With Ryan McDonagh shipped out and the right side his for the taking, expect Carrier's numbers to shoot back up. He finished 2023-24 with four goals and 20 points in 73 games, but had a goal and three points in six playoff games while logging over 21 minutes of ice time per game.

Carrier's deal should be at least 4+ years and a decent raise. Don't expect this to be the only move on the back-end for the Predators in free agency though. More cap space is available and bigger things should follow.