Michael McCarron

Last updated

Michael McCarron
2025-05-04 Deutschland gegen USA (Eishockey-Landerspiel) by Sandro Halank-037.jpg
McCarron in 2025
Born (1995-03-07) March 7, 1995 (age 30)
Grosse Pointe, Michigan, U.S.
Height 6 ft 6 in (198 cm)
Weight 231 lb (105 kg; 16 st 7 lb)
Position Forward
Shoots Right
NHL team
Former teams
Nashville Predators
Montreal Canadiens
NHL draft 25th overall, 2013
Montreal Canadiens
Playing career 2015present

Michael McCarron (born March 7, 1995), also known by the nickname Big Sexy, is an American professional ice hockey player for the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the first round, 25th overall, by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2013 NHL entry draft.

Contents

Playing career

As a youth, he played in the 2008 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Detroit Belle Tire minor ice hockey team. [1]

McCarron was rated as a top prospect who fulfilled the expectation to be a first round selection at the 2013 NHL entry draft. [2] He trained with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (USNTDP) team from 2011 to 2013, [3] and won a silver medal at the 2013 IIHF World U18 Championships. [4]

McCarron initially committed to play for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Western Michigan University Broncos, before opting out to continue his development through Canadian junior ranks with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). [5] Originally playing (and drafted) as a right winger, McCarron made the switch to center during his first OHL season. [6] On July 11, 2013, McCarron was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract with the Montreal Canadiens. [7]

In the midst of the 2014–15 season, McCarron was traded by the Knights to OHL contenders, the Oshawa Generals, on January 1, 2015, [8] with whom he won the J. Ross Robertson Cup and Memorial Cup. [9] [10]

After a good start in his first professional year in 2015–16, he was called up by the Canadiens and played two games in the National Hockey League (NHL), though without picking up any points. [11] As a result of his good play in the American Hockey League (AHL), McCarron was named to the 2016 AHL All-Star Classic. [12] He was later called up again by the Canadiens on February 26, 2016, after forwards Dale Weise and Tomáš Fleischmann were traded to the Chicago Blackhawks. On February 27, he recorded his first NHL point, an assist on a Devante Smith-Pelly goal, in a 4–1 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs. [13] He scored his first NHL goal in a 4–1 loss to the Calgary Flames on March 20, 2016. [14]

While playing with the Canadiens' AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket, during the 2018–19 season, McCarron underwent a season-ending surgery on his left shoulder in February 2019. [15]

McCarron became a restricted free agent after the 2018–19 season. On July 27, 2019, he signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Canadiens. [16]

Continuing with Laval, McCarron entered the 2019–20 season, contributing with five goals and 14 points in 29 games. Having been passed on the depth chart and with limited prospects with the Canadiens, McCarron was traded to the Nashville Predators in exchange for Laurent Dauphin on January 7, 2020. [17]

International play

Medal record
Representing Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Ice hockey
World Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2025 Sweden/Denmark

McCarron represented the United States at the 2025 IIHF World Championship, where he recorded one goal and one assist in ten games and helped Team USA win their first gold medal since 1933. [18]

Personal life

While playing for the Predators' AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, he was given the nickname "Big Show", which was later changed to "Big Sexy" by then teammate Matt Benning. [19]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
2010–11Honeybaked 18U AAA T1EHL 386121888
2011–12 U.S. NTDP Juniors USHL 353141711210112
2011–12U.S. NTDP U17USDP5362127128
2012–13 U.S. NTDP JuniorsUSHL19551084
2012–13U.S. NTDP U18USDP59162137182
2013–14 London Knights OHL 66142034120932522
2014–15 London KnightsOHL2522194158
2014–15 Oshawa Generals OHL31621277021991833
2015–16 St. John's IceCaps AHL 5817213891
2015–16 Montreal Canadiens NHL 2011237
2016–17 St. John's IceCapsAHL32712196620006
2016–17 Montreal CanadiensNHL311454110000
2017–18 Laval Rocket AHL5471724121
2017–18 Montreal CanadiensNHL1801132
2018–19 Laval RocketAHL327142146
2019–20 Laval RocketAHL29591450
2019–20 Milwaukee Admirals AHL271031350
2020–21 Nashville Predators NHL600016
2021–22 Milwaukee AdmiralsAHL1433615
2021–22 Nashville PredatorsNHL5177147020002
2022–23 Nashville PredatorsNHL3222424
2022–23 Milwaukee AdmiralsAHL16246281543724
2023–24 Nashville PredatorsNHL7012102210060002
2024–25 Nashville PredatorsNHL745914102
NHL totals30228346242290004

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2012 United States U17 Silver medal icon.svg51122
2013 United States U18 Silver medal icon.svg732514
2025 United States WC Gold medal icon.svg101122
Junior totals1243716
Senior totals101122

Awards and honors

AwardYearRef
OHL
J. Ross Robertson Cup champion 2015 [20]
CHL
Memorial Cup champion 2015 [21]
Memorial Cup All-Star Team 2015 [22]
AHL
AHL All-Star Classic 2016 [12]

References

  1. "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2019. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  2. "ISS Draft Rankings (Final 2013)". TSN.ca. June 20, 2013. Retrieved June 20, 2013.
  3. "Michael McCarron - The Next Ones: NHL 2013 Draft Prospect Profile". TheHockeyWriters.com. May 17, 2013. Retrieved June 14, 2013.
  4. "2013 IIHF U18 Men's World Championship". USA Hockey. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  5. "Incoming freshman named to World U18 squad". Western Michigan Broncos. April 8, 2013. Retrieved July 6, 2013.
  6. Whyno, Stephen (September 14, 2015). "Big Michael McCarron could be Canadiens' dream centre of the future". Kelowna Daily Courier . Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  7. "Canadiens sign Michael McCarron". Montreal Canadiens. July 11, 2013. Retrieved July 11, 2013 via NHL.com.
  8. "Oshawa Generals acquire McCarron and Mermis from the London Knights". CHL.ca. January 1, 2015. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
  9. "Generals finish off Otters to win OHL title". Sportsnet.ca. May 15, 2015. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  10. Pyette, Ryan (May 31, 2015). "Oshawa Generals win Memorial Cup in overtime". Toronto Sun . Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  11. "Michael McCarron called up". Montreal Canadiens. Retrieved January 13, 2016 via NHL.com.
  12. 1 2 "ROSTERS ANNOUNCED FOR AHL ALL-STAR CLASSIC". TheAHL.com. January 6, 2016. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  13. Farrell, Sean (February 27, 2016). "Pacioretty scores twice, Canadiens top Maple Leafs". NHL.com. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  14. Hickey, Pat (March 20, 2016). "In the Habs' Room: McCarron's first NHL goal spoils Backstrom's shutout bid". Montreal Gazette . Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  15. "Medical update on Michael McCarron". Montreal Canadiens. February 7, 2019. Retrieved February 10, 2019 via NHL.com.
  16. Cowan, Stu (July 27, 2019). "Canadiens sign Mike McCarron to one-year, two-way contract". Montreal Gazette . Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  17. "Montreal Canadiens trade forward Michael McCarron to Nashville Predators for forward Laurent Dauphin". TSN.ca. January 7, 2020. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
  18. Zaccardi, Nick (May 25, 2025). "U.S. men's hockey team wins first standalone world championship since 1933". NBC Sports . Retrieved May 25, 2025.
  19. Skrbina, Paul (April 1, 2022). "How Nashville Predators forward Michael McCarron got 'Big Sexy' nickname". The Tennessean .
  20. "Oshawa Generals win Robertson Cup". CHL.ca. May 15, 2015. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  21. "Oshawa Generals win 2015 MasterCard Memorial Cup". CHL.ca. May 31, 2015. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  22. "2015 MasterCard Memorial Cup Awards and All-Stars". CHL.ca. May 31, 2015. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Montreal Canadiens first round draft pick
2013
Succeeded by