Alexandre Carrier

Alexandre Carrier (born October 8, 1996) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is a defenceman for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the fourth round, 115th overall, by the Nashville Predators in the 2015 NHL entry draft.

Early life Carrier was born on October 8, 1996 in Quebec City, but raised in Saint-Hyacinthe, as part of a hockey family. His father, Bernard, played briefly for the Drummondville Voltigeurs, while his older brother, Samuel, was a 2010 NHL entry draft selection by the Washington Capitals.

Playing career Junior Carrier first played midget level hockey in his native Quebec with the Collège Antoine-Girouard Gaulois of the Ligue de hockey Midget AAA du Québec (QMAAA). He then embarked on a major junior career with the Gatineau Olympiques of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) after being selected fourth overall by the team in the 2012 QMJHL entry draft. A mobile, two-way defenceman, Carrier posted a breakout campaign in the 2014–15 season, leading to his eventual selection by the Nashville Predators in the 2015 NHL entry draft.

During his final QMJHL season with the Olympiques in 2015–16, Carrier was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract by the Predators on November 12, 2015. Appearing in 57 games with Gatineau, he matched his previous best goal output with 12 and contributed 47 total points before being ousted by the Moncton Wildcats in the second-round of that year's QMJHL playoffs.

Professional Carrier was assigned to begin the 2016–17 season in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Predators' top affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals. Leading the Admirals' defence core in scoring which earned him selection to the 2017 AHL All-Star Game, he received his first NHL recall on January 13. Carrier made his NHL debut in a 1–0 loss to the Vancouver Canucks on January 21. After two scoreless games with Nashville, he was returned to the Admirals for the remainder of the AHL season. He was named as an alternate captain for Milwaukee in advance of the 2019–20 season.

Following the completion of his entry-level contract, Carrier agreed to a three-year extension with the Predators organization in April 2020. His first career NHL goal came amidst the pandemic-shortened season in the third period of a 6-3 loss versus the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 13, 2021. He likewise made his Stanley Cup playoffs debut during the Predators' 2021 first-round series against the Carolina Hurricanes, collecting two assists across six games played.

Securing a full-time roster spot with Nashville ahead of the 2021–22 season, Carrier registered 30 points through 77 games and was named to the annual NHL All-Rookie Team. Injuries plagued his 2022–23 production whereas he would be sidelined following a fight with Winnipeg Jets' forward Logan Stanley in a game on January 24, only to suffer a season-ending collarbone fracture upon his return. Despite these setbacks, the Predators opted to re-sign Carrier to a one-year extension on July 1.

In advance of the 2024–25 season, Carrier signed a new three-year, $11.25 million extension with the Predators on July 1, 2024. Prior to the annual holiday roster freeze, he was traded to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for fellow defenceman Justin Barron on December 18. Carrier immediately joined the team on the road, making his Canadiens debut at Little Caesars Arena two days later versus the Detroit Red Wings. He registered his first franchise point in a 5–1 win over the Red Wings on December 21.

Over the course of the 2025–26 season, Carrier recorded his 100th career NHL point on January 12, 2026. Scoring twice in the span of 20 seconds, he tied Bert Corbeau for the second-fastest consecutive goals during a game by a Canadiens defenceman in franchise history, trailing only Larry Robinson (19 seconds).

International play

Internationally, Carrier first represented Hockey Canada as part of team Canada Quebec at the 2013 World U-17 Hockey Challenge where his team ultimately finished in fourth place following a loss to Team USA in the bronze medal game. Thereafter, he was named to the Canadian national under-18 team for the 2013 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup, capturing a gold medal. The following year, Carrier participated at the IIHF World U18 Championships, earning bronze along with his country.

Personal life Carrier met his wife, fellow Québécois Alicia Lessard, while playing for the QMJHL's Gatineau Olympiques in 2015. The couple were engaged in July 2022 and married two years later at a vineyard located in Sutton, Quebec. Lessard completed her residence in family medicine at McGill University and is co-owner of a medical practice in Côte Saint-Luc.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2011–12 Collège Antoine-Girouard Gaulois QMAAA 40 5 25 30 30 11 1 1 2 2 2012–13 Gatineau Olympiques QMJHL 50 2 5 7 28 9 1 0 1 6 2013–14 Gatineau Olympiques QMJHL 67 3 25 28 29 9 1 4 5 4 2014–15 Gatineau Olympiques QMJHL 68 12 43 55 64 11 2 3 5 18 2015–16 Gatineau Olympiques QMJHL 57 12 35 47 50 10 0 5 5 4 2016–17 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 72 6 33 39 45 3 0 2 2 0 2016–17 Nashville Predators NHL 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 2017–18 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 73 4 24 28 52 — — — — — 2018–19 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 76 5 32 37 47 5 0 0 0 2 2019–20 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 55 5 32 37 44 — — — — — 2019–20 Nashville Predators NHL 3 0 0 0 2 — — — — — 2020–21 Chicago Wolves AHL 3 0 1 1 0 — — — — — 2020–21 Nashville Predators NHL 19 1 2 3 8 6 0 2 2 4 2021–22 Nashville Predators NHL 77 3 27 30 50 4 0 3 3 2 2022–23 Nashville Predators NHL 43 2 7 9 27 — — — — — 2023–24 Nashville Predators NHL 73 4 16 20 44 6 1 2 3 0 2024–25 Nashville Predators NHL 28 1 6 7 12 — — — — — 2024–25 Montreal Canadiens NHL 51 2 16 18 28 5 1 1 2 0 2025–26 Montreal Canadiens NHL 73 7 15 22 34 19 1 6 7 26 NHL totals 369 20 89 109 205 40 3 14 17 32

International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2013 Canada Quebec U17 4th 6 0 1 1 10 2013 Canada IH18 5 0 0 0 0 2014 Canada U18 7 0 0 0 0 Junior totals 18 0 1 1 10

Awards and honours Award Year RefQMAAA Second All-Star Team 2012 QMJHL CHL Canada/Russia Series 2014 Second All-Star Team 2015 AHL All-Star Game 2017, 2020 NHL All-Rookie Team 2022