Canucks trade defenceman Carson Soucy to Rangers for third-round pick in 2025 draft

Vancouver Canucks defenceman Carson Soucy (7) skates with the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Dallas. The Vancouver Canucks have dealt defenceman Carson Soucy to the New York Rangers ahead of the NHL trade deadline. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, LM Otero

VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Canucks have dealt defenceman Carson Soucy to the New York Rangers ahead of the NHL trade deadline.

The Canucks got a 2025 third-round draft pick in return.

The selection originally belonged to the San Jose Sharks before the Rangers acquired it earlier Thursday from the Vegas Golden Knights in a trade for winger Reilly Smith.

Vancouver announced the deal on Thursday evening, less than 24 hours before the league’s trade deadline of 3 p.m. ET Friday.

Soucy had three goals, seven assists and 42 penalty minutes in 59 games for the Canucks this season.

“Carson was a big part of our success last season, helping our group take a positive step forward in the right direction,” Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin said in a release. “He is a true professional both on and off the ice and we wish him nothing but the best in New York.”

The 30-year-old blue liner from Viking, Alta., scored the game winner in Vancouver’s 3-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday.

A pending unrestricted free agent, Soucy knew his name was swirling in trade rumours, but said it wasn’t difficult to ignore the talk and play hockey.

“We want to try and get this team in the playoffs. I think as a group, we showed last year that we kind of do good down the stretch,” he said after Wednesday’s win. “I know when the games get a little more important, a little more intense, that’s kind of when I do my best so I was just excited. I want to get this team in the playoffs.”

Soucy was originally picked in the fifth round of the 2013 draft by the Minnesota Wild.

He’s split seven NHL seasons between Vancouver, Minnesota and the Seattle Kraken, amassing 26 goals and 58 points across 349 regular-season games, with another two goals and five assists in 38 playoff appearances.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 6, 2025.