We took a look at all 35 players in the system that are aged 25 or younger (as of October 1, 2023) and ranked them. Welcome to the Top 25 Under 25. At #11, Declan Carlile is making the case that he can be the next Nick Perbix.
Bio
Age: 23
Position: Left Defense
Draft: undrafted
2023-24 Team: Syracuse Crunch
2022 Ranking: 19th
Stats
Scouting Report
One of the many great things about having prospects on the Syracuse Crunch is there is tons of video to pull from, and as a fan up north, it’s very easy to watch Crunch games compared to college games. What that means is that I’ve watched a lot of Declan Carlile, including both his highlights and less great moments, so hopefully we get a better idea of what this young defender can do.
Right off the bat, I have two things to say about this player. He’s average in skating, and he has an amazingly superb shot that the Lightning couldn’t have wished up in a lab.
Carlile’s shot is really good. He shoots often, and is capable of repeatedly getting the puck on net, either for a rebound or a tip. His shots are hard, accurate, and he can release them quickly against the wingers rushing him. Carlile’s best skating comes in the offensive zone when he’s able to walk across the blueline or jump down the boards to keep a play going or for a shot on net. His shot in stride is something I’m impressed by, and reminds me a lot of Morgan Rielly (similarly sized player, too).
Carlile’s strength in skating is his lateral movement. His stride is definitely very wide, meaning his forward speed isn’t as efficient as it could be, but it works for him in other areas. It allows him to walk the line in the offensive zone, or be wider against the rush.
Looking to the NHL, Carlile will need to simplify his game a considerable amount to reduce the number of times he’s held onto the puck too long to make a better play when the first good option will do just fine. That comes in all three zones with and without the puck. It’s an NCAA thing to hold onto the puck for a long time and try to circle the net for defenders. I’ve definitely seen that pattern over the years. In the NHL, it’s far more likely the puck is going to get pushed into the corner and suddenly there’s one fewer defender up top.
Away from the puck, I am curious to see how Carlile’s first pass adapts to the increase in pace against him, because in the AHL he’s been making it work on the breakout. So far, so good. I want to know if he can find the next level defensively with his size and thinking speed to get himself higher in the lineup. He’s fighting against Lilleberg for a NHL shot.
Overall, I think this defender is close and has come a heck of a long way for an undrafted player. He’s in the AHL, playing real minutes, with upside still on his side, and with a toolbox that the Lightning have been able to make success stories out of in the recent past. I’m very optimistic for Carlile as a player, and I hope he gets a shot somewhere, because the Crunch’s depth chart on the blueline is stacked. Carlile should be the second or third left shot to start the season, but he could very easily be higher.
If it’s not the NHL for many of the defenders in Syracuse right now, at the very least the franchise should have both eyes set on maximizing the talent they have to take a run at the Calder Cup. I’m not joking in saying the following defense group is championship calibre.
Lilleberg – Myers
Day – Thompson
Carlile – Crozier
Stephens – Schmidt
If Hugo is the guy in net for one more season, they should try to add some forwards around Dumont, Goncalves, Edmonds, Robert, and MacArthur. See if anyone slips through waivers after training camp or missed out on a contract on a PTO. They have a chance to make a real run with most of the roster they have.
Highlights
Okay, are you ready for a lot of videos? Let’s go!
This was what I was talking about with holding onto the puck too long.
