Sam Carrick opened up about his time with the Rangers thus far and his goals going forward.
One of the biggest surprises of the New York Rangers season thus far has been the emergence of Sam Carrick.
When the Rangers signed Carrick to a three-year, $3 million contract, nobody knew what to expect, but it’s safe to say that Chris Drury made the right decision in going after the veteran center.
Carrick’s impact should not be overlooked.
Between his relentless defensive style of play, scrappy offensive tendencies and role on the penalty kill, Carrick has sneakily transformed into one of the Rangers’ most important forwards.
The 33-year-old has been a staple on the fourth line and continues to see his role increase. Regardless of his promotion, Carrick still feels like the same player he’s always been.
“I’m always the same player,” Carrick said. “I try to be at least whether I play eight minutes or 14 minutes. Sometimes you feel a little better out there in that groove, when you are playing a little bit more. The best way to do that is to gain the coach's trust and he’ll throw you out there more because he feels that you are going to give your team a good chance to win.”
Having a guy like Carrick is a coach’s dream. He plays the game the right way and does all the little stuff that is not shown on the stat sheet to perfection.
Peter Laviolette had high praise for Carrick as he’s only gotten more impressed with him over time.
“I think Sam has played really well for us. I think the more he’s played, the more confident and comfortable he’s gotten in making plays with the puck… He plays physical and I’ve been real happy with his play.”
During the 4 Nations Face-Off break, Carrick was able to take some time to process the entire season and his time in New York.
Carrick is happy with the progress he’s made, but his hunger to get better and better remains intact.
“I’m feeling more and more comfortable now,” Carrick said. “There is always room for improvement I think. I’m always looking for ways to get better. Obviously it’s a long season and I’m looking for each and every game to have a positive contribution to the game. I think for the most part I’m just trying to be consistent.”
The Rangers are in the midst of a playoff push and Carrick will certainly play a big role through the homestretch of this season.
