Mac Carruth’s career was heading in the wrong direction.

Carruth had played in more ECHL games than AHL games two years after signing his entry-level contract with the Chicago Blackhawks. His ECHL numbers weren’t great. He was also thought to be immature and a hothead. When his NHL deal came up after the 2014-15 season, the Blackhawks didn’t offer him a new one. His best bet was an AHL/ECHL contract with the Rockford IceHogs and Indy Fuel.

That could have been the last you heard of Carruth. Plenty of NHL-drafted goalies never find their footing in professional hockey and end up bouncing around lower leagues or get out of the game all together.

Carruth chose a different path.

Carruth has revived his career and NHL chances by becoming a different person on and off the ice. He accepted the recommendation of seeing Blackhawks mental skills coach Dr. James Gary, embraced what he learned in those sessions and has utilized them as a player and person.

“It was kind of I don’t want to stay pushed on me by the people around me, but it was definitely recommended by coaches and things like that in my past,” the 24-year-old Carruth said near the end of last season. “Took advantage of it and fell in a great relationship with Dr. Gary and it’s worked out great.”

More than anything, Carruth began to live by the idea of living in the moment. Whatever happens – good or bad – he deals with it then. He’s learned to not let his emotions boil and eventually erupt. It’s allowed him to be more at ease in all situations.

“I was known as kind of having a short fuse in the past, especially in juniors and things like that,” said Carruth, who was drafted by the Blackhawks in the seventh round in 2010. “Chicago knew about it and talked to me about it to work on it and things like that. That’s things we’ve worked on with Doc Gary. I think personally, yeah, off the ice as well as on the ice I’ve matured. Not as big as a snap shot, I guess you could say. It’s been a kind of rollercoaster for me, but I’ve feel like I’ve come out the other end, matured, ready to play.

“You just kind of got to learn about yourself really. What makes you tick, what’s going to push you over the end and when you need to take a step back. I think it’s like anything in life it’s going to take some time. Luckily, they’ve given me enough time to figure it out.”

Kevin Magnuson, Carruth’s agent for the past nearly decade, has witnessed Carruth’s evolution as close as anybody.

“Where he was when I first met him and where he is now is a complete 180,” Magnuson said. “He’s always been one of the most the competitive players I’ve represented. That could be a huge asset, but it could also be a huge detriment. He’s learned to control his emotions on and off the ice and realize the big picture and what it’s all about – taking it shot by shot. His development and maturity has allowed him to realize an unbelievable year last year. I really believe he’s going to be a pro goalie for the next 10 years with his athleticism, his size and his maturity in place. I’m really excited for him. …. I couldn’t be more proud of him.”

The Blackhawks took notice of Carruth’s maturity, but also of his play. He was assigned to the Fuel of the ECHL to begin last season and had a rough start. In December, he began to put it all together.  Beginning with a start where he stopped 44 of 45 shots on Dec. 19, he strung together 10 consecutive games where he didn’t allow more than two goals.

Carruth was recalled to the IceHogs just after that stretch and was solid in three of four starts with the IceHogs. On Feb. 28, he was put on an NHL contract the remainder of the season. When Corey Crawford got injured with the Blackhawks and Michael Leighton was recalled from the IceHogs in March, Carruth got another opportunity in the AHL.

The Blackhawks had also acquired Drew MacIntyre for the IceHogs around that time. After MacIntyre struggled, IceHogs coach Ted Dent had a talk with both his goalies.

“I basically told them, ‘Hey, the spot’s open for the No. 1 guy and someone’s just got to grab the ball and run with it,” Dent said. “‘If you play good, we don’t necessarily have to win, but if you have a good outing and play really well, and you’ll play the next game and the next game and then you’ll go.’”

Carruth answered the challenge. During an eight-game stretch to end the regular season, he recorded two shutouts, allowed one goal three times and two goals once. When the AHL’s Calder Cup playoffs arrived, he was named the team’s starter.

Dent has also recognized the changes Carruth had made.

“He definitely has [matured] both on and off the ice,” Dent said. “He came to us as a 20, 21-year-old when he was up and down at the end of his junior seasons. So, the maturity has definitely gotten better. But I think the confidence and the opportunity is something he’s been waiting for and he’s always been that third or fourth guy. … Everything is timing. It’s crazy how things are. Opportunity and timing and playing for the right organization, with the right coach who believes in you.”

Carruth agrees. He felt timing and opportunity had been essential to what he was able to do.

“I’m sure there would be arguments, but I don’t think I’ve had a legitimate shot since I’ve been here as far as consistently playing in a row,” Carruth said. “That’s like any goalie. You’re just kind of waiting for your opportunity. You just got to take advantage of it.

“Goalies, it’s an odd thing, you can try too hard and be awful, and you cannot try enough and sometimes pucks just hit you. But you just find that rhythm in your game and away from the game itself and just kind of find that medium.”

The Blackhawks were convinced in what they saw and rewarded Carruth by signing him to a one-year NHL contract in June. Their and Carruth’s hope is now he develops into something even more like their two current NHL goalies – Darling and Crawford – did.

“Goalies are different,” said Carruth, who is expected to begin the season as the IceHogs’ No. 2 goalie. “Guys like them later in their career. Twenty-five is kind of your prime or so; it’s supposed to be 25 or 26. Obviously [Darling’s] a bit of a late bloomer, too. Corey was here [in the AHL] for a while. Like I said, I’ve just been trying to stay in the moment.”