Carson Soucy Trade Nearing Completion: Rangers, Islanders Finalizing Rare Crosstown Deal
It’s not official just yet, but all signs point to defenseman Carson Soucy swapping Manhattan for Elmont. The Rangers and Islanders are closing in on a deal that would send the veteran blueliner to Long Island in exchange for a 2026 third-round pick-matching the price the Rangers paid to acquire him from Vancouver last season.
Soucy was a healthy scratch for the Rangers’ matchup against the Bruins, a clear move to protect the asset as trade talks near the finish line. The phrase “roster management reasons” was used, but in NHL circles, that usually means only one thing: a deal is imminent. And with multiple reports confirming the framework, it’s safe to say Soucy has likely played his last game as a Blueshirt.
Rangers Make Roster Moves in Anticipation
New York has already begun reshuffling the deck in preparation for Soucy’s departure. Forward Anton Blidh was sent down to the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, while veteran defenseman Connor Mackey was recalled. Mackey’s addition gives the Rangers a seventh defenseman on the active roster, providing some immediate insurance once Soucy officially exits.
Soucy’s Journey: From Late Bloomer to Steady Depth Option
Soucy’s path to the NHL has been anything but conventional. Drafted in the fifth round by the Minnesota Wild back in 2013, he took the long road-developing through college and the AHL before finally cracking an NHL roster full-time in 2019-20. After two seasons in Minnesota, he was selected by the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 expansion draft, where he quietly carved out a valuable role on the back end.
His best stretch came during his time in Seattle, especially in the 2021-22 season when he posted a career-high 10 goals and 21 points in 64 games. At 6-foot-4 and 211 pounds, Soucy brings size and physicality-averaging over 100 blocks and nearly 130 hits per 82 games across his career. That kind of edge will be welcomed on an Islanders blue line that’s been decimated by injuries.
A Mixed Bag in Vancouver and New York
Soucy signed a three-year, $9.75 million deal with the Canucks in free agency back in 2023, but his time in Vancouver never quite clicked. Injuries derailed his only full season there, and he finished the year with a career-worst -11 rating across stints with both the Canucks and Rangers.
This season, Soucy’s numbers are a bit of a mixed bag. On the surface, eight points and a +4 rating through 46 games don’t raise red flags for a second or third-pairing defenseman.
But dig a little deeper, and the concerns start to show. According to MoneyPuck, his most common pairings-alongside William Borgen and Braden Schneider-have controlled just 42.4% of expected goals at 5-on-5, the worst among Rangers’ defensive duos.
His 43.8% Corsi share at even strength also ranks last among New York’s blueliners, despite being deployed in relatively sheltered minutes.
Still, there’s value in what Soucy brings, especially for a team like the Islanders that’s been forced to lean on AHL call-ups in the absence of Alexander Romanov and, more recently, Ryan Pulock. With Romanov sidelined long-term due to a shoulder injury and Pulock now dealing with an upper-body issue, the Islanders needed a stabilizing presence on the back end-and fast.
A Tactical Fit for the Islanders
Soucy’s role with the Isles will likely be to solidify the third-pairing left defense spot, which has become a revolving door in Romanov’s absence. Young call-ups like Isaiah George, Travis Mitchell, and Marshall Warren have done their best, but none bring the experience or physicality that Soucy offers. And while he’s a natural lefty, he’s shown he can handle right-side duties when needed-giving the Isles some flexibility as they patch together their blue line.
From a cap perspective, the deal also works for the budget-conscious Islanders. While Soucy carries a $3.25 million cap hit, his actual salary this season is just $2.5 million thanks to a front-loaded contract structure. That’s a small but meaningful win for general manager Mathieu Darche, who’s trying to keep the Isles competitive in the first year of the Matthew Schaefer era.
A Rare Trade Between Rivals
This move marks just the fourth trade ever between the Rangers and Islanders-and the first since 2010. That alone makes the deal notable, but the context adds even more intrigue. Both teams are jockeying for playoff positioning, and while this isn’t a blockbuster by any means, it’s a calculated depth move that could pay dividends for the Isles down the stretch.
For Soucy, it’s another new jersey, but not a new city. And for the Islanders, it’s a timely reinforcement as they try to weather the storm on defense and stay in the playoff hunt.