Some potential solutions are disturbing not because they are shocking, but because they disrupt the status quo we have taken for granted. Alexandre Carrier is one of those players you never thought you'd see in the stands… until the day comes when the reality is: no one is untouchable. Especially in the National League, where results dictate the hierarchy.
In recent weeks, Carrier's name has come up in discussions not because of his performances, but because he I don't.
We're currently wondering if we should take advantage of Adam Engström's presence in town to give Alexandre Carrier a chance to play. If Jayden Struble is healthy, the Canadiens have seven options on the blue line.
Quitting is rarely a trivial matter, especially for an experienced defenseman who has already seen significant responsibility in the third pairing, and sometimes even in the second pairing role when depth was lacking.
The facts are harsh and quantitative. On X, the @HabsOnReddit account did not mince its words. It says Carrier took the ice and scored five of the team's five-on-five goals during a recent three-game road trip.
A statistic that sums up the current spiral: When he's in the heat of battle, the tide too often turns in the enemy's favor.
Alex Carrier now took the ice and scored a team-worst 5 goals at even strength on this three-game road trip. https://t.co/zdDdLFMEl2
– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) November 29, 2025
So, is this idea a message? Punishment? Strategic analysis? A little about all three.
Because in the modern NHL, team identity depends less and less on loyalty and more and more on logic. If someone plays better than you, if someone fits your style more, if someone makes fewer bad decisions with the puck… he should play. Dot.
The carrier is, at best, reliable. Not impressive, not transformative, not dominant: just reliable. A defender who plays simply, closes space, blocks shots, can stabilize the depth of the defense. There is a place for such a player… but only if his play remains consistent. And that's the problem.
There is a slight decline. Not a collapse, but a gap large enough to open the door. The young defender moves forward. The veteran found his rhythm. A coach who wants more turnovers, more offensive rebounds, a cleaner first pass.
And the popular ratings don't end there. Alex Carrier is playing like a shadow of his former self this year. He is unrecognizable compared to last season.
Alex Carrier has looked like a shell of his former self this season.
Unrecognizable from last year.
– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) November 27, 2025
At some point, the chair is no longer occupied.
And this is where the story gets interesting: this is not a condemnation, this is an opportunity. An opportunity for Carrier to question himself, to adjust his game to become an important part again rather than a fungible choice.
The very fact of participating in such discussions makes one feel that the situation has changed.
He is in that uncomfortable zone where every presence, every move, every one-on-one duel becomes an audition. The margin for error is reduced. The relevance is increasing.
But this is not the first time he has experienced such turbulence. His career is built on resilience. That he deserves not just a place, but a role. We sometimes forget that it is often these players, not the stars, who have to constantly fight to stay in the league.
So the question is not why Carrier should be left out? The real question is: what will he do about it?
Because two reactions are possible. Resent yourself, shut down, wait for the injury or defeat to resurface, or use that wake-up call as fuel.
And if his track record is anything to go by, his answer will likely be the latter.
In this context, the team also wins. Internal competition creates movement, discourages self-piloting, and forces each player to earn their place. You build a winning culture not with immovable confidence, but with a mentality where no one is above the possibility of being replaced.
So yes, the idea of seeing Alexandre Carrier in the stands might come as a surprise. But perhaps this is exactly what was needed. Because the player who has nothing to lose sometimes becomes the most dangerous.
after a while
– Ugh… it's getting hot!
WOW
EVERYTHING GOT INTENSIVE. CURSE.
– MLFootball (@MLFootball) December 1, 2025
– Where is Vegas actually now?
VGK Insider @garylawless gives his thoughts on where the Golden Knights will be at the end of November
https://t.co/yO4Q8kY5gf
– Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) December 1, 2025
– A career that continues to speak for itself.
Salute to the Captain for 400 career goals
pic.twitter.com/QL26WBMZLp
– Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) November 30, 2025
