It was roughly six months ago that defenceman Connor Carrick got the news he’d been traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs. In the six weeks that followed, Carrick was among the parade of prospects trotted out in primetime by the team to see what exactly they had to offer. 

Carrick’s 16-game stint for Toronto produced four points (two goals, two assists); enough to earn him a new two-year, $1.5 million contract as a restricted free agent this summer. But a taste of NHL experience (his first since 2013-14) and a one-way deal haven’t given Carrick, with just 53 big-league contests on his resume, any illusions about what this season may hold.

“I don’t know how someone in my position could [be overconfident],” Carrick said. “Realistically, how many games do [I] have [in the NHL]? One thing this organization wants to do is be successful for a long time and as quickly as possible. Pro sport is all about can you help those clubs reach their goals. And if not, you’re very replaceable. It’s just the reality of where the Leafs are, how the business is run. And that’s how it should be. [This is] the best league in the world. It’s a privilege to even be competing for a spot.”

After spending the summer training in Chicago, Carrick has seen the intensity of summer skates ramp up since he returned to Toronto. On Tuesday, more of the Maple Leafs’ NHLers were participating in the informal scrimmages at the MasterCard Centre, including veteran forward Brooks Laich. The Washington Capitals unloaded Laich’s $4.5 million cap hit on Toronto in a Feb. 29 trade that included the highly touted Carrick, a fifth-round selection by the Caps in 2012, and a 2016 second-round pick.

“It definitely takes the edge off in terms of nerves and all those sorts of things,” Carrick says of entering his first full season in Toronto. “Some familiarity with the coaching staff is huge. [Familiarity with] the personnel is even bigger, knowing some of the player’s ins and outs and how they like to play the game. At the deadline [when he was traded] there was a lot going on, but I’m glad that the trade happened when it did and not in the summertime. You didn’t have a chance to get nervous because you were playing the next night, so you just keep rolling instead of having all summer to think about it.”

When Toronto’s season ended in April, Carrick joined the Toronto Marlies on their playoff run to the AHL’s Eastern Conference final. Their season was swiftly halted by the Hershey Bears, the Capitals’ affiliate for whom Carrick had played 133 career games. It was an abrupt end to an overall tumultuous season for the 22-year-old.

“I think I started a little bit more slowly than I would have liked, but it’s just kind of that rush — you’re rushing to try and feel comfortable and try and understand everything and it’s a lot and the coaching staff knows it and you know it yourself,” he said. “But that’s kind of the talent of being a pro — certain guys just have a knack for being good when they need to be good and luckily I think they gave me a long enough chance [in the NHL] that I was pretty happy with my play.”

Carrick led the Marlies in points (seven goals, 11 assists) during the playoffs and was a team-high plus-8. But his slate will be wiped clean later this month along with the rest of the Leafs and Marlies invited to training camp. Carrick is prepared to prove himself all over again.

“I think the confidence [from last season] kind of carries over but at the same time, that was how many months ago? So you’ve got to try and find your game and find it early and often and be consistent and show the coaching staff … make sure you are what they want you to be. I don’t think they have any unrealistic expectations for my game, being a pro for a couple years now. They kind of know what they’re getting.”