Carson Cameron (D, R, 6’1″, 193, Peterborough Petes, 06/27/2007)
Carson Cameron is an offensively capable, mobile right-shot defenseman with strong puck-moving instincts, crisp passing ability, and the ability to create offense in transition. He eats significant minutes in all situations for Peterborough and is a player that the coaches look to in key situations. While he’s a legitimate offensive driver with potential pro upside in transition, there are serious defensive red flags that must be addressed, particularly regarding positional awareness, gap discipline, and decision-making under pressure.
Why Carson Cameron Should Be an NHL Draft Pick
1) Offensive Confidence, Vision, and IQ
Cameron moves pucks at a high level. He completes 88% of his passes, does not telegraph plays, and executes with poise under pressure. His ability to walk the line, manipulate defenders with lateral movement, and find clean seams makes him a clear second power play option. His 0.55 passes leading directly to a teammate’s grade “A” scoring opportunity per game (passes leading to shots) and 0.55 Grade A chances per game speak to his ability to generate offense from the backend.
+2) Transition Creator
He processes play quickly and can retrieve, evade, and exit with purpose. His 4.2 shot attempts/game and offensive blueline movement create chaos for defenders. Carson creates offense by moving without the puck and supporting rush plays, which is an element increasingly valued in NHL systems.
3) Usage & Ice Time
As a 17 year old, Cameron is logging over 24 minutes per game with a combined 6:52 of special teams deployment per game. He’s shown that he can be trusted to carry a heavy load, which reflects well on his stamina and game intelligence.
4) Compete and Leadership
Cameron plays with effort and courage, often matching up against top lines and playing hard despite receiving over 1.1 hits/game. He wins 53% of his puck battles and shows a willingness to engage physically without being reckless. His leadership history (captain at lower levels, played at the U17 World Challenge for Canada White) suggests maturity and him being a captain in the near future.
Why Carson Cameron Should Not Be an NHL Draft Pick
1) Major Defensive Deficiencies
Cameron’s -25 rating is the worst among Peterborough defensemen. Turnovers under pressure, blown assignments, and failed gap control show up too frequently to consider drafting him in the top two rounds. He can over-pursue, get caught puck-watching, and lacks patience away from the puck — these trend needs immediate correction.
2) Skating Mechanics and Efficiency
While he’s an agile skater with above average forward acceleration, his stride lacks efficiency, relying on an inside-edge glide and some wasted movement. This impacts his ability to recover and hold consistent gaps. If not cleaned up, this will limit his ability to defend against speed at the next level.
3) Lacks True Physical Presence
Though he doesn’t shy away from contact, Cameron isn’t a physical deterrent. His 1.03 hits given/game are modest for a 6’1″ defender,. As he grows into his frame, he’ll need to add strength and become harder to play against.
4) Risk/Reward Decisions
Cameron frequently activates into the play but sometimes does so without recovering his position. While the upside is there offensively, these types of decisions are contributing to his on-ice struggles. He will need to be coached into a more structured two-way approach to be a dependable pro.
Projection and NHL Outlook
Projection: Bottom-four NHL defenseman with second-unit power play upside
Draft Grade: 3rd–4th Round
Verdict:
Cameron is an NHL-caliber defenseman in the making with strong instincts in transition and on the power play. He moves the puck well, creates offense with confidence, and competes. However, his defensive off-puck awareness, skating efficiency, and decision-making without the puck must improve significantly. He is currently more impactful when chasing a game than protecting a lead — which must shift at the pro level. The NHL upside is there, but he’s a development project who must be surrounded by smart / patient coaches and paired with a defensively sound veteran partner. Worth a swing in the middle rounds for a team that values mobile puck-movers and has time to let him round out his game.
Photo credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images