12-Year NHL Veteran Leaves the League and Signs Deal in Switzerland

Every single year, the NHL gets an influx of new talent, and with some emerging superstars joining the league in 2024/25, spots are harder and harder to come by, especially for veterans of the game.

That has led to many names taking their hockey careers overseas, and now, another one of those names has joined the list, as it has been reported that veteran defenseman Connor Carrick will be signing a two-year deal to head over to Switzerland.

The 31-year old was originally a fifth-round pick of the Washington Capitals way back in 2012, and in that time he's played in 242 NHL games with Washington, Toronto, New Jersey, Dallas, and Boston, most recently spending the 2024/25 campaign with the AHL's Bakersfield Condors, the affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers.

In 63 games, Carrick was fairly productive, tallying 18 goals and 41 points with a +5 differential and a whopping 101 penalty minutes, and while he struggled to crack the NHL team, it's clear that he can still play at a high level.

Now, he'll head to Switzerland to join Lugano on a two-year deal starting in 2025/26, a deal that will mean he is 33-years of age when it comes up, with many now questioning if we'll see him in the NHL or not.

That future all depends on his play in Switzerland, but given the talent and the production at the AHL level again, it's likely we haven't seen the last of him in North America, as he'll look to revive a once promising career overseas.