Austin Carroll
| Birthday: 1994-03-26 | Position: RW |
| Eligible for draft: 2012 | Shoots: Right |
| Drafted: 2014 | Height: 6-4 |
| Acquired: 7th round (184th overall), 2014 | Weight: 205 lbs. |
Probability of Success
- D
History
2009-10: Austin Carroll played 12 games with the PF Changs midget AAA team in Arizona. He had three assists and 30 penalty minutes.
2010-11: Carroll competed in the junior A British Columbia Hockey League as a 16-year-old; skating for the Coquitlam Express. He scored 6 goals with 5 assists and had 28 penalty minutes in 42 regular season games. The Express finished seventh in the Coastal Division and lost to Surrey in a first round playoff series. Carroll had no points and 4 penalty minutes in four playoff games.
2011-12: Drafted by the Victoria Royals in the 2009 WHL Bantam Draft when the franchise was still based in Chilliwack, Carroll skated in 62 regular season games and four playoff contests for the Royals in his first WHL season. He scored 8 goals with 12 assists and was -12 with 80 penalty minutes during the regular season as the Royals finished fourth in the B.C. Division. He scored 2 goals and was +1 with 6 penalty minutes in the four-game playoff series against Kamloops.
2012-13: Carroll skated in 67 of 72 regular season games for Victoria in his second WHL season and was second to team leader Keegan Kanzig (CGY) with 152 penalty minutes. Offensively he scored 15 goals with 27 assists and was -18 as the Royals finished third in the B.C. Division. Carroll scored 1 goal with 1 assist and was an even plus/minus with 2 penalty minutes in four playoff games — missing the final two games of the Royals’ first round series against Kamloops with an upper body injury.
2013-14: Carroll led Victoria in goals (34) and penalty minutes (114) in his third WHL season as the Royals had the league’s fifth-best record and finished second in the B.C. Division. He had 23 assists and was +18 in 70 regular season games. The Royals swept Spokane in a first-round series before falling to eventual Western Conference champion Portland in the second round. Carroll scored 5 goals with 3 assists and was minus-4 with 16 penalty minutes in nine playoff games. He was selected by Calgary in the seventh round (184th overall) in the 2014 NHL Draft in his third year of eligibility.
2014-15: Carroll led the WHL’s Victoria Royals in goals, points, plus/minus, and penalty minutes as a 20-year-old. He scored 38 goals with 39 assists and was +23 with 125 penalty minutes in 69 regular season games. The Royals finished second in the B.C. Division and reached the second round in the playoffs. Carroll scored 1 goal with 8 assists and was +5 with 8 penalty minutes in 10 playoff games. He signed a three-year entry-level contract with Calgary in March 2015.
Talent Analysis
Carroll is a classic late-bloomer who emerged as a scorer in his third year of junior hockey and was drafted following his 19-year-old season. With the size and temperament of a lower line energy/enforcer-type, he plays with a no-holds-barred style. Carroll's skating ability and stick handling and passing skills are limited when compared to other top prospects but he gets the most out of his ability. His success at the WHL level is noteworthy but he will need to continue to refine all areas of his game — particularly his mobility — to compete successfully at the pro level.
Future
Carroll will begin his pro career in 2015-16 following an overage season in the WHL. His scoring and toughness suggest he can earn a spot with the Flames' AHL affiliate Stockton but he may spend time in the ECHL early in the year as the Calgary system sorts itself. Long-term, Carroll will need to continue improving in all areas of his game to compete at the NHL level as more than a lower line enforcer.
