Sam Carrick is reportedly headed to Buffalo.
After the Rangers held Carrick out of the lineup for Thursday’s 6-2 win over the Maple Leafs, Sportsnet reported the veteran center is expected to be traded to the Sabres before the 3 p.m. deadline on Friday.
As of late Thursday night, the return was not yet clear.
Carrick signed in New York as a free agent from the Oilers in July 2024, inking a three-year, $3 million deal with the Blueshirts.
Since then, the hard-nosed forward has been one of the most consistent players over a tumultuous couple of seasons for the organization.
If not for this trade, Carrick was a frontrunner to win the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award, which is given annually to the Ranger who, as chosen by the fans, “goes above and beyond the call of duty.”
In 140 games with the Rangers, Carrick posted 10 goals and 20 assists with 111 penalty minutes.
He largely filled the fourth-line center role.
The 34-year-old stepped up as an enforcer this season, when Matt Rempe went down with a thumb injury that precluded him from fighting even when he initially returned to the lineup.
