Two defensemen taken in the 2015 NHL Draft 63 picks apart now find themselves as pairing on the Nashville Predators this season.
Alexandre Carrier and Jeremy Lauzon have spent 40 games together and have been one of the most consistent lines on the ice. Carrier is the homegrown talent Nashville has seen mature since his time in the AHL and then Lauzon who bounced around twice before landing on the Predators.
This season Carrier has an opportunity to showcase his best hockey on a one-year deal while Lauzon is cementing his role as a physical force to be reckoned with.
Head coach Andrew Brunette has balanced his defensive pairing around the duo, and at times it’s been a challenge doing so.
Jeremy Lauzon defending Avalanche forward Miles Wood on Nov. 20, 2023.
“It’s competitive back there. You have seven proven NHL defensemen you’re trying to find the right combinations and the right mixes,” Brunette said. “It’s clear as mud but we’re trying to find solutions and let it play out a little bit…
“For sure [making those decisions] it’s the worst part of coaching. Especially when they’ve all played well enough to be in the lineup. Nobody has played that poorly to come out so it’s the understanding and communication with them. It’s hard and I’ve personally been in that boat and I understand. You try to constantly communicate or be in touch with them so they see what I’m thinking. It’s hard and it’s no fun as a coach.”
Through this process, Brunette has seen the most growth out of Lauzon who leads the NHL with 187 hits as of Jan. 25 while also understanding Carrier complements the bruiser on the blue line.
Brunette has been impressed with Lauzon’s closing ability as he takes away time and space from opponents.
“How he separates people from the puck with his physicality, length, his speed, he’s got a great stick, and he has a little edge to him. I think he’s growing into an elite defenseman in our league because there’s not a lot of speed when he’s on the ice,” Brunette said.
Lauzon feels he’s playing the best hockey of his career and understands his assignments under Brunette’s system.
“I’m at a point in my game that I know exactly what I need to do out there and there’s no grey area,” Lauzon said. “My consistency is really good too, I show up every game and play the same way.”
Lauzon said he likes playing with Carrier as his right-hand man on the ice. The French Canadians have spent 40 games together as a duo and one Brunette has held as one of his most consistent lines on the team.
Jeremy Lauzon defending Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk on Jan. 22, 2024.
“Most of the nights we play against big lines on the other side,” Lauzon said. “It’s been a great experience for us and I think it shows the organization has a lot of confidence in our play right now.”
One way Lauzon and Carrier are incentivized along with other teammates playing on the penalty kill is by being awarded action figures.
Assistant coach Dan Hinote – who oversees the penalty kill – has a variety of action figures on hand to award his units every month. Lauzon currently has Shredder from “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” in his stall while Carrier chose the Joker from “Batman”. Hinote is just a month into doing this with these players.
“Every play you make on the PK he gives you a little killer to put in your stall and every month he has an algorithm to see who has been best on the PK,” Lauzon explained.
In Lauzon’s mind the Predators – NHL teams for that matter – need to have a good penalty kill. His 68 blocked shots and 180 + hits through 47 games are a testament to the grit needed to be a revered defenseman in this league.
“A big part of what [Dan Hinote] brought to the team is that confidence and every time we go on the ice for the kill we know exactly what to do,” Lauzon said.
To no surprise, Lauzon stated he plays his best hockey when he’s physically engaged. It only takes a few hits in his first few shifts to get broken in each game.
“It’s a big part of my game but the funny part is I lead the league in hits but I’m not going into games thinking I’m going to have five hits tonight,” Lauzon said. “It comes naturally to me, it’s been cool to be up there and be able to lead the league.”
Lauzon’s right-hand man may be smaller in stature, but Carrier remains one of Nashville’s models of a well-developed defenseman in the organization.
Despite missing 39 games last season with a barrage of injuries Carrier is feeling good even with the bumps and bruises along the way. Not playing at 100% the entirety of an NHL season is expected, especially for a player who leads the Predators with 6.78 blocks per game and 89 overall in 43 games.
As of now, Carrier is the Predator’s second-best point producer at 13 points and needs one more goal for his career-high in a season (4) with 35 games remaining.
“For me when I don’t think about points that’s when I get some, when I think about it I don’t get much,” Carrier said. “When we’re winning you get more opportunities, everyone is playing better and then it just comes with it.”
Alexandre Carrier celebrating his goal against the New York Islanders on Jan. 13, 2024.
As far as playing on the penalty kill goes this season Carrier has played 104 minutes and on the other hand he also scored his first career shorthanded goal back on Jan. 9 against the Anaheim Ducks.
Carrier gave credit where it’s due in being guided by Hinote this season as he’s been playing bigger minutes for the Predators in his third full season in the NHL.
“His commitment is unbelievable he cares so much,” Carrier said of Hinote. “The figurines are a way for us to get something. You don’t get rewarded for blocking shots or clearing the puck, it’s more about scoring goals. He’s been doing a good job and he’s so committed to it.”
Carrier admitted he thought the penalty kill statistics could be better and hopes that moving forward the special teams units can put their head down & go to work.
As of Jan. 25, the Predators have been shorthanded 151 times and spent 245 minutes on the penalty kill which ranks 11th in the NHL. Overall the Predators penalty kill percentage sits in 24th place going into Minnesota to start a three-game road trip which is good for 77.5%.
Looking back on the Predators adjusting to a new style of play Carrier and Lauzon acknowledged how it took some time to get acclimated to what Brunette was asking for.
On the flip side, the play in front of goaltenders Juuse Saros and Kevin Lankinen took a hit at the time, more often than anyone would like when reminiscing on the beginning of the campaign.
“We were struggling the fronting and boxing out at first,” Carrier said. “The timing to do that now has gotten better in order to make their life easier. There are always places to get better but we have the best goalie, there’s no way ‘Juice’ should be an All-Star every year.”
As for Carrier’s future, he’s playing on a one-year deal after general manager Barry Trotz opted to retain his services once he was hired. Forward Cole Smith signed a two-year deal worth $2 million this week and Trotz is on record saying he’s had early conversations with his pending free agents representatives.
“I don’t know, hopefully, you always want to stay here –– I love this place –– but I’m happy for ‘Smitty’ he deserves it,” Carrier said. “For myself, I try to focus on the next game.”
Follow Nick Kieser on Twitter/X: @KieserNick
Photos courtesy of Nashville Predators
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