Connor Carrick Gets Lost in Toronto’s PATH, Just Like You Do

Since his arrival from the Washington Capitals last February, 22-year-old Connor Carrick has been a major figure in the Maple Leafs’ unexpected renaissance. After signing a two-year, $1.5-million deal with Toronto just before the season began, Carrick has been a force to reckon with on defence, averaging just shy of 17 minutes per game and playing primarily in even-strength situations with Jake Gardiner.

In addition to his success on the ice, Carrick has proved to be one of the Leafs’ most insightful players and a go-to guy for the media. We recently sat down with the Illinois native to discuss playing with Alex Ovechkin, navigating the PATH system in Toronto, and what’s surprised him most about the NHL.

Apart from skating, which attribute would you say is the most important to become a great player in the NHL?

It’s got to be hockey sense and competitiveness, they go hand in hand. You can always tell when you’re playing sports: there are the kids that really want to win and the kids that are picking grass in left field. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it just means you’re a different type of dude. Different things make different people tick.

Who was the player you most admired watching while growing up? Someone you tried to model your game after?

I loved Joe Sakic, I loved Pavel Bure.

And yet you became a defenseman…

[Laughs.] Yes, and then I became a D-man. I was pretty offensive growing up. I liked to carry the puck and things like that. I loved watching those guys.

Who’s one current player, not on the Leafs, who you love watching?

I don’t think it’s any secret: the guys at the top of the league. I love watching Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby, Patrick Kane, Evgeny Kuznetsov, those type of guys. But for D-men, I like watching Drew Doughty a lot, I like watching Duncan Keith a lot, guys that aren’t super massive but put it together one way or another every night.

You might have one of the best display pictures on Twitter right now. What exactly is going on there?

That was at one of our holiday parties. That’s my girlfriend Lexi, and she photoshopped our dog onto Santa’s lap. All the credit goes to her. She’s multitalented. I haven’t found something she’s not good at yet.

In the spirit of your picture, what is your go-to Christmas movie?

Miracle on 34th Street, the old one. For newer ones, I like Elf a lot. Those are two upper-echelon movies right there.

How good of a navigator are you in the PATH in downtown Toronto?

Underground, above ground, directionally, I might be one of the most challenged people there are. It’s really a fault of mine. I will fight the cold any day if I’m able to know where I’m going versus the PATH. It’s actually quite terrifying.

You know you can actually go from the Air Canada Centre to the Eaton Centre without going outside, right?

Oh, I know. I’ve tried and I usually end up further from my destination than I’d started. I wind up walking outside further and more frustrated anyway. I just wear my coat and a couple of scarves and I call it a day.

You’re from Orland Park, Illinois, not too far from Chicago. What was your level of excitement this past fall when the Cubs won the World Series?

Well, I grew up a White Sox fan, and I was there in 2005 when they won. I went to Game 2 where Paul Konerko hit a grand slam and Scott Podsednik hit a walk-off. That was a special sports memory for me. But at the same time, my family on my mom’s side has a business selling t-shirts, beer, all that stuff at Chicago sporting events. So anytime a Chicago team does well, it’s good for my family. It was awesome to see the Cubs win, though. The city deserves it. Chicago is a great sports town.

What was it like having Alex Ovechkin as a teammate when you started your career?

He’s been doing what he’s been doing for a long time. Everybody knows what’s coming and yet he’s still able to execute. I think that’s what makes him so special as a goalscorer. He’s fun to watch. He plays with a lot of flare, he has a lot of fun out there and he can still hammer it better than the best of them.

Do you have a favourite memory of playing with Ovie? 

I do! It was February 2nd, 2014. We were playing the Detroit Red Wings. It was 4-on-3 in overtime. The game was on the line and by the time the puck left John Carlson’s stick as he passed to Ovechkin for a one-timer, you could see where the goalie was and our whole bench was standing, halfway over the boards before he even shot the puck. It was automatic. Everybody knew it was going in.

Was it a big shock to be traded last season, so early in your career?

It was and it wasn’t. I kind of had an idea where I stood in the organization. The Capitals were very straightforward with me throughout the year. They told me to keep playing well and I’d get my chance, and if it wasn’t there it would be somewhere else. Anytime you are at the bottom or top of the league, usually those are the teams making moves. What I was worried about was where I’d end up going. There’s 30 teams and 30 AHL team, and you don’t know where you could end up.

Who has had the biggest impact on your career and getting to where you are today?

My dad. I talk to him almost daily about how I’m doing. We’ve bonded over the game of hockey for a long time. My mom, too, just putting in the hours and getting me to the rink. It’s the same story for a lot of kids. Your mom and dad have to put in the hours for you to go have fun as a kid.

What’s one thing about being in the NHL that has surprised you?

When you’re in the AHL, you’ll play three games in three days — you’ll play 23 minutes on Friday, 22 minutes on Saturday and 20 minutes on Sunday — and you are exhausted. You just think what a cakewalk the NHL must be, never having to play three in three. But I never realized that in the NHL, you never get to exhale. You don’t get Monday through Thursday off like the AHL to hammer out dry-cleaning, appointments and stuff. When we get an off day, you’re sitting around and thinking, “Wow, we’re playing again in 27 hours,” so you have to stay on top of things.

What’s one thing that has nothing to do with sports that you are passionate about?

I love my dog, so I’ve looked into a bunch of people who do things for animal rights. It’s something I haven’t really gotten involved with yet, but it’s something I’d like to do in the future. My girlfriend and I cook a lot. We love food. Other than hockey it’s probably the one thing I think about the most!

You a good cook, or what?

I can grill pretty well. I make a mean steak, medium-rare. Olive oil, a little salt and pepper. I keep it simple because I don’t like the cleanup. That’s my biggest issue: I’m not a big cleanup guy.

Read more of our exclusive Maple Leafs interviews:

Zach Hyman Talks Making the NHL, Writing Children’s Books and Fantasy Football
Mitch Marner Talks Video Games, Bon Jovi, and His Mom
Connor Brown Dishes On Karaoke, Cooking, and His Cat Mr. Samuelson