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Michael McCarron

Michael McCarron
McCarron at the 2016 AHL All-Star Game
Born (1995-03-07) March 7, 1995 (age 29)
Grosse Pointe, Michigan, U.S.
Height 6 ft 6 in (198 cm)
Weight 231 lb (105 kg; 16 st 7 lb)
Position Forward
Shoots Right
NHL team
Former teams
Nashville Predators
Montreal Canadiens
NHL draft 25th overall, 2013
Montreal Canadiens
Playing career 2015–present

Michael McCarron (born March 7, 1995), sometimes called by the nicknames Big Sexy or Big Show, is an American professional ice hockey player for the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the first round, 25th overall, by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2013 NHL entry draft.

Playing career

As a youth, he played in the 2008 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Detroit Belle Tire minor ice hockey team.[1]

McCarron was rated as a top prospect who fulfilled the expectation to be a first round selection at the 2013 NHL entry draft.[2] He trained with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (USNTDP) team from 2011 to 2013,[3] and won a silver medal at the 2013 IIHF World U18 Championships.[4]

McCarron initially committed to play for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Western Michigan University Broncos, before opting out to continue his development through Canadian junior ranks with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).[5] Originally playing (and drafted) as a right winger, McCarron made the switch to center during his first OHL season.[6] On July 11, 2013, McCarron was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract with the Montreal Canadiens.[7]

In the midst of the 2014–15 season, McCarron was traded by the Knights to OHL contenders, the Oshawa Generals, on January 1, 2015,[8] with whom he won the J. Ross Robertson Cup and Memorial Cup.[9][10]

After a good start in his first professional year in 2015–16, he was called up by the Canadiens and played two games in the National Hockey League (NHL), though without picking up any points.[11] As a result of his good play in the American Hockey League (AHL), McCarron was named to the 2016 AHL All-Star Classic.[12] He was later called up again by the Canadiens on February 26, 2016, after forwards Dale Weise and Tomáš Fleischmann were traded to the Chicago Blackhawks. On February 27, he recorded his first NHL point, an assist on a Devante Smith-Pelly goal, in a 4–1 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs.[13] He scored his first NHL goal in a 4–1 loss to the Calgary Flames on March 20, 2016.[14]

While playing with the Canadiens' AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket, during the 2018–19 season, McCarron underwent a season-ending surgery on his left shoulder in February 2019.[15]

McCarron became a restricted free agent after the 2018–19 season. On July 27, 2019, he signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Canadiens.[16]

Continuing with Laval, McCarron entered the 2019–20 season, contributing with five goals and 14 points in 29 games. Having been passed on the depth chart and with limited prospects with the Canadiens, McCarron was traded to the Nashville Predators in exchange for Laurent Dauphin on January 7, 2020.[17]

Personal life

While playing for the Predators' AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, he was given the nickname "Big Show", which was later changed to "Big Sexy" by then teammate Matt Benning.[18]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2010–11 Honeybaked 18U AAA T1EHL 38 6 12 18 88
2011–12 U.S. NTDP Juniors USHL 35 3 14 17 112 1 0 1 1 2
2011–12 U.S. NTDP U17 USDP 53 6 21 27 128
2012–13 U.S. NTDP Juniors USHL 19 5 5 10 84
2012–13 U.S. NTDP U18 USDP 59 16 21 37 182
2013–14 London Knights OHL 66 14 20 34 120 9 3 2 5 22
2014–15 London Knights OHL 25 22 19 41 58
2014–15 Oshawa Generals OHL 31 6 21 27 70 21 9 9 18 33
2015–16 St. John's IceCaps AHL 58 17 21 38 91
2015–16 Montreal Canadiens NHL 20 1 1 2 37
2016–17 St. John's IceCaps AHL 32 7 12 19 66 2 0 0 0 6
2016–17 Montreal Canadiens NHL 31 1 4 5 41 1 0 0 0 0
2017–18 Laval Rocket AHL 54 7 17 24 121
2017–18 Montreal Canadiens NHL 18 0 1 1 32
2018–19 Laval Rocket AHL 32 7 14 21 46
2019–20 Laval Rocket AHL 29 5 9 14 50
2019–20 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 27 10 3 13 50
2020–21 Nashville Predators NHL 6 0 0 0 16
2021–22 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 14 3 3 6 15
2021–22 Nashville Predators NHL 51 7 7 14 70 2 0 0 0 2
2022–23 Nashville Predators NHL 32 2 2 4 24
2022–23 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 16 2 4 6 28 15 4 3 7 24
2023–24 Nashville Predators NHL 70 12 10 22 100 6 0 0 0 2
NHL totals 228 23 25 48 320 9 0 0 0 4

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2012 United States U17 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 5 1 1 2 2
2013 United States U18 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 7 3 2 5 14
Junior totals 12 4 3 7 16

Awards and honors

Award Year Ref
OHL
J. Ross Robertson Cup champion 2015 [19]
CHL
Memorial Cup champion 2015 [20]
Memorial Cup All-Star Team 2015 [21]
AHL
AHL All-Star Classic 2016 [12]

References

  1. ^ "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  2. ^ "ISS Draft Rankings (Final 2013)". TSN.ca. June 20, 2013. Retrieved June 20, 2013.
  3. ^ "Michael McCarron - The Next Ones: NHL 2013 Draft Prospect Profile". TheHockeyWriters.com. May 17, 2013. Retrieved June 14, 2013.
  4. ^ "2013 IIHF U18 Men's World Championship". USA Hockey. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  5. ^ "Incoming freshman named to World U18 squad". Western Michigan Broncos. April 8, 2013. Retrieved July 6, 2013.
  6. ^ Whyno, Stephen (September 14, 2015). "Big Michael McCarron could be Canadiens' dream centre of the future". Kelowna Daily Courier. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  7. ^ "Canadiens sign Michael McCarron". Montreal Canadiens. July 11, 2013. Retrieved July 11, 2013 – via NHL.com.
  8. ^ "Oshawa Generals acquire McCarron and Mermis from the London Knights". CHL.ca. January 1, 2015. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
  9. ^ "Generals finish off Otters to win OHL title". Sportsnet.ca. May 15, 2015. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  10. ^ Pyette, Ryan (May 31, 2015). "Oshawa Generals win Memorial Cup in overtime". Toronto Sun. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  11. ^ "Michael McCarron called up". Montreal Canadiens. Retrieved January 13, 2016 – via NHL.com.
  12. ^ a b "ROSTERS ANNOUNCED FOR AHL ALL-STAR CLASSIC". TheAHL.com. January 6, 2016. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  13. ^ Farrell, Sean (February 27, 2016). "Pacioretty scores twice, Canadiens top Maple Leafs". NHL.com. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  14. ^ Hickey, Pat (March 20, 2016). "In the Habs' Room: McCarron's first NHL goal spoils Backstrom's shutout bid". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  15. ^ "Medical update on Michael McCarron". Montreal Canadiens. February 7, 2019. Retrieved February 10, 2019 – via NHL.com.
  16. ^ Cowan, Stu (July 27, 2019). "Canadiens sign Mike McCarron to one-year, two-way contract". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  17. ^ "Montreal Canadiens trade forward Michael McCarron to Nashville Predators for forward Laurent Dauphin". TSN.ca. January 7, 2020. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
  18. ^ Skrbina, Paul (April 1, 2022). "How Nashville Predators forward Michael McCarron got 'Big Sexy' nickname". The Tennessean.
  19. ^ "Oshawa Generals win Robertson Cup". CHL.ca. May 15, 2015. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  20. ^ "Oshawa Generals win 2015 MasterCard Memorial Cup". CHL.ca. May 31, 2015. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  21. ^ "2015 MasterCard Memorial Cup Awards and All-Stars". CHL.ca. May 31, 2015. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Montreal Canadiens first round draft pick
2013
Succeeded by