Carson Soucy

Soucy remained solid in a limited role for the Wild last year, picking up one goal and 16 assists in 50 games while averaging 15:17 of ice time per game. The 27-year-old defenseman is far from a standout in any one area, and he's not even guaranteed a regular role in Seattle after the Kraken loaded up on defensemen in the Expansion Draft. The Alberta native isn't likely to see more than third-pairing work with Adam Larsson and Jamie Oleksiak ahead of him on the depth chart. Soucy will need to fend off Cale Fleury, Connor Carrick and Will Borgen in training camp -- he should be able to do it, but no one should be looking for more than 20 points and modest physical production from Soucy in 2021-22.

Soucy became a regular in the Minnesota lineup in 2019-20, registering 14 points, 69 hits and 50 blocked shots in 55 appearances. While the 26-year-old defenseman doesn't excel at any one thing, his overall solid game will likely keep him in the lineup most nights. Soucy could take a step forward and play at a 20-to-25 point pace in 2020-21, but he'll likely be confined to a bottom-pairing role as Ryan Suter and Jonas Brodin are ahead of him on the left side of the blue line. Fantasy managers in deeper formats with standard scoring may be interested in using a late-round pick on Soucy given his upside, but a big step forward shouldn't be expected.

The 24-year-old saw his first brief taste of NHL action last year, suiting up for three regular-season games with the Wild and taking a regular shift in a first-round loss to the Jets after managing 15 points in 67 games for AHL Iowa. At 6-foot-5, Soucy profiles as a big, physical stay-at-home defenseman, something the Minnesota blue line could certainly use, and unlike some players his size, skating and mobility don't appear to be issues for the Minnesota-Duluth product. His offensive upside is unproven, but on a roster with Mathew Dumba, Ryan Suter and Jared Spurgeon, Soucy won't be called upon to supply many points. Look for him to fight for a bottom-pairing spot in training camp.