The 35 year old from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada is a veteran forward that can play both wings, has a 6’4 frame, weighs in at 95kg and has been described as a two way, powerful skater with a strong net front presence.
A player that creates space for his line mates, able to out battle opponents, draw in defensemen, allowing for that finishing touch.
His experience has taken him across some of the top leagues in Europe, such as the KHL across 5 seasons and the SHL for the same and last season he played in the Swedish second tier, the Allsvenskan.
He played a considerable chunk of his career in the AHL also, mainly with the Marlies, after being drafted 29th overall in the first round by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2009, as well as Norfolk Admirals.
There is no doubt he would have played against a certain Jimmy Oligny.
Ashton also represented his country, Team Canada in 2018, playing on a roster that featured former EIHL player Simon Despres and current Steeler, Sean Collins and former Steeler, Barry Brust.
During his junior career at Lethbridge Hurricanes (2007-08) in the WHL, he was also coached by current video and goal tending guru, Jeff Battah.
Another WHL team, the Tri-City Americans, he featured on the same roster as Storm OFD star, Drydn Dow and Regina Pats with former Clan blue liner, Dyson Stevenson.
In the 2011 IIHF U20 WJC, he earned a silver medal with Team Canada.
His time in Sweden, particularly in the SHL with Leksands, also saw him ice in the CHL (Champions Hockey League).
When he played for former CHL champions, Rogle, his time was cut short due to a season ending injury, where he put up 8 points in 22Gp.
In each of those top leagues, he has played in their playoffs, however, he has yet to win league-based silverware in as a senior in his professional career.
It is worth noting, that in his early NHL career with the Maple Leafs, the NHL suspended Ashton for 20 games, due to ‘indirect ingestion from using a team mates’ asthma inhaler’. (Link to the story below).
In the NHL, he played 54 games in total.
Strengths
An immediate dive into his professional career points to a skillset that is sorely needed for the Cardiff Devils, a finisher on the power play.
The Devils’ current offensive struggles stem from two main issues; an inefficient, pass first mentality in the OZ and a slow build up that kills momentum before anything begins.
Ashton provides that fix as a power play specialist.
Across his time in the AHL, KHL and Swedish leagues, he has put up 49 PPG’s, out of 163 scored in total.
Of all those contributions, he has netted 30 times for a GWG.
His physicality and board work matches the style of play the Devils need, want and what Coach Thompson prefers.
His time is heavily split in three distinct playing leagues, north American AHL, The KHL and the SHL.
With high level exposure to those leagues, systems and styles of play, he would rapidly adapt to the EIHL style of hockey, that uniquely draws from north America, featuring a pivot toward that higher end European flare.
To continue the same output for so long, across those high level leagues is a testament to his longevity, tactical nous and adaptability.
He is also loyal, spending multiple seasons at the same team, which works both ways, not just from the player, but those who recruit players as well.
Breakdown
Core Attributes;
- Puck Protection & Net Front Presence; He is adept at battling hard, drawing in defensemen and creating as well as capitalising on high danger chances
- Skating & Mobility; He is a noted power skater, playing a solid two-way game across his career, that needs elite acceleration, top-end speed, agility and effective transitions
- Hockey IQ, Tactical Awareness; Decision making under pressure is a key weakness of late, a player of Carter Ashton’s calibre brings this in spades, off-the-puck movement and DZ coverage as a two-way skater benefits his teams and line mates alike, providing depth in that area
- Physicality; Considering his lineage and career, that doesn’t come with a free pass to loiter around for a perfect one-timer and claim a job well done. Board battles, net front battles, NZ chess, two-way play and forechecking are in his wheelhouse, perfect for the Devils.
Limitations/Trade-offs
Every player has a limitation, even for current rostered players brought in on the promise of more ice time and increased role and value, Carter Ashton is no exception.
Playing in difficult leagues with as good imports would create line and usage limitations, let alone a cautiousness regarding his age.
This isn’t new to the club, considering Ferguson brought in last November and the retention of the leagues’ longest serving players.
Career Insights
When Ashton moved to the KHL, he maintained reliable elite goal scoring from the AHL across a decade of playing, projecting a 15-20 goal scoring forward.
In 209 KHL games, he notched 57 goals and 93 points. His peak was 18 goals and 28 points in 59GP.
During his time in Sweden, he started quite hot with 13 goals in 24GP, evolving his game as he played each season there. In the SHL alone, he registered 32 goals in 161GP, for 68 points.
In the Allsvenskan, he had a dramatically explosive uptick in production, reverting back to when he played his first season in the KHL, 18 goals in 47GP.
A difference in quality, but a marker for the transition to the EIHL.
Ideal Roles, Line Fits and Value
Already, the picture has broadcast a fairly comprehensive view that Ashton would be a power play specialist, that can provide utility in all three zones and balance the production and distribution each game.
Whilst the team is known for its physicality, it isn’t always a constant. Adding another hard hitting power forward heaps more pressure upon opponents and provides the skilled players, such as MacDonald, Kontos, Martin, as a few examples, more room to play to their strengths.
He has sustained a 12.3 SH% across those top tier leagues over his career, demonstrating his continued quality, which for the EIHL could increase by minimum to 14%, which is needed to compete with established sharp shooters that regularly win games and lift trophies.
Each look into his career, statistically, only improves expected value to a club like the Cardiff Devils.
Players he could readily fit on a line with are Joey Martin and Ryan Barrow, which would provide an elite unit to create space, score goals and compress opponents across all three zones.
Whilst Kontos stalks with the puck, Martin is a heads up playmaker, that thrives with speedy wingers and robust forecheckers.
Ashton would be spoilt for choice on who he could link up with.
An ideal deployment would be top 6, moving Mieho and Caron to the third line with Brandt, providing opportunities for the coach to build up a 1-2 punch and counter punch top units that would pad the stat sheets.
On top of EVS play, his proficiency as a power play specialist would add to the group of Martin – Welsh – MacDonald and Barrow.
Links
https://www.quanthockey.com/hockey-stats/en/profile.php?player=9541
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