What’s Going On With Alexandre Carrier? Canadiens Blueliner Struggling to Find His Game
There’s no easy way to say it: Alexandre Carrier is in a slump, and it’s starting to become a real concern for the Montreal Canadiens.
The 29-year-old defenseman, acquired last season in what looked like a savvy midseason move, just hasn’t looked like himself of late. The numbers from Montreal’s recent Western road swing tell a pretty clear story - and not a flattering one.
Carrier was on the ice for a team-worst five even-strength goals against over that three-game stretch. For a player who built his reputation on smart positioning and reliable two-way play, that’s a glaring stat.
And it’s not just the numbers. The eye test backs it up.
Carrier’s reads have been off, his gaps inconsistent, and the confidence just doesn’t seem to be there. He’s looked tentative in situations where he used to be assertive.
Plays that came naturally last year now look like they’re being overthought. And in the NHL, that split-second hesitation is all it takes to get burned.
Head coach Martin St. Louis addressed the situation this week with the kind of calm, supportive tone you’d expect from a former player who understands the mental side of the game.
“I would just tell him to keep going,” St. Louis said.
“Alexandre hasn’t forgotten how to play hockey. When your confidence goes down a bit, your reading of the game isn’t as elevated or as effective.
You just gotta take a deep breath. Just stay calm and go out there and play, because I love him as a player.”
It’s a vote of confidence, but also a clear signal: Carrier needs to find his game - and soon.
The timing of this dip in form couldn’t be worse for him. With young defensemen Adam Engstrom and Arber Xhekaj showing well in their minutes, and Jayden Struble inching closer to a return, the Canadiens’ blue line is getting crowded. If Carrier doesn’t turn things around, he could find himself as the odd man out in the rotation - a tough pill to swallow for a veteran who was expected to be a stabilizing presence on the back end.
Let’s not forget what made Carrier such an intriguing fit for Montreal in the first place. A fourth-round pick of the Nashville Predators back in 2015, Carrier carved out a role in the NHL by being smart, mobile, and dependable.
He’s not a big guy - listed at 5-foot-11, 174 pounds - but he’s always played bigger than his frame. Last season, after the trade, he put up 18 points in 51 games and finished with a respectable +4 rating.
This year? Just 8 points in 24 games and a -10.
It’s not just about the offense or the plus-minus. It’s about the little things - the stick positioning, the breakout passes, the ability to absorb pressure and make the right decision under duress. Right now, those details aren’t clicking for Carrier, and in a league where margins are razor-thin, that’s enough to put a player’s spot in jeopardy.
The good news? St.
Louis is right - Carrier hasn’t forgotten how to play hockey. Slumps happen, even to steady veterans.
Sometimes it just takes one good game, one clean shift, one big play to reset the rhythm. But with the Canadiens’ blue line getting healthier and more competitive, the clock is ticking.
There’s still time for Carrier to right the ship. The Canadiens could use the version of him they saw last spring - the poised, puck-moving defender who helped stabilize a young group and made smart decisions under pressure.
If that player re-emerges, he’ll have a role to play. If not, Montreal may be forced to look elsewhere in a suddenly crowded defensive corps.
For now, all eyes are on Carrier to respond.