2023-24 Vancouver Canucks Player Review: Carson Soucy
A deep dive into the 2023-24 season of Vancouver Canucks defenceman Carson Soucy.
Photo by Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports - 2023-24 Vancouver Canucks Player Review: Carson SoucyWelcome to the 2023-24 Vancouver Canucks player review series. Over the summer, we will be taking a look at Canucks players performances from the 2023-24 season. Today's player is Carson Soucy, who had two goals and six points in 40 games.
Soucy's first season in Vancouver was less than ideal. The Canucks big 2023 free agency signing missed significant time with injury, limiting him to just 40 games. That being said, when in the lineup, Soucy was able to provide Vancouver with solid defending and proved to be a strong partner for Tyler Myers.
One area where Soucy had a significant impact was the penalty kill. In the 71:53 of shorthanded time he played last season, the Canucks have up just four goals while giving up only 29 high-danger scoring chances. During that time, Vancouver also scored two shorthanded goals, which is impressive as the Canucks only scored seven all season. Ultimately, he was one of Vancouver's best penalty killers, not just during the regular season but in the playoffs as well.
Speaking of the postseason, this is where Soucy was at his best. Often matching up against the opposition's top players, he finished the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 12-11 goals for advantage in 178:34 of even-strength ice time. Soucy was also a physical presence throughout the playoffs, recording 32 hits while also blocking 12 shots.
Evaluating Soucy's season is challenging because of his role. At first glance, his analytics look poor, but that is mainly because he spent the season and playoffs in a shutdown role. That being said, the fact that he was able to hold the Edmonton Oilers to five goals during the 55:49 he was matched up at even strength against Connor McDavid shows that Soucy was able to deliver at the most crucial time of the year and against one of the best players in the NHL.
Heading into 2024-25, Soucy is expected to play a more significant role than he did last year. He is projected to play beside Myers again while also seeing consistent time on the penalty kill. If Soucy can be a more physical presence in his second year with the Canucks, he will continue to be a valuable piece of the lineup.
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