John Carlson had gone to mattress, however his telephone saved buzzing whereas he tried to sleep Thursday night time. Eventually, he figured he’d higher take a look at it.
Awaiting him was a telephone message from Washington Capitals normal supervisor Chris Patrick, however among the many many others was one from Carlson’s cousin, who was out in the midst of the night time plowing snow in Massachusetts. Even he had heard the information earlier than Carlson that the Capitals had traded the 36-year-old defenseman to the Anaheim Ducks.
“In the middle of the night is not the best way to find out some very altering news like that,” Carlson mentioned Friday earlier than heading to the airport to be a part of the Ducks in Anaheim. “But it’s just been a crazy day, I would say; a crazy day with my family, a crazy day, packing, getting ready, saying goodbyes.”
Being traded after 17 seasons with the Capitals was a intestine punch for Carlson, who, till lately, had envisioned taking part in his complete profession for the workforce that chosen him within the first spherical (No. 27) of the 2008 NHL Draft. It was not an entire shock, although, with the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline approaching at 3 p.m. ET on Friday.
“Obviously, in the days leading up, I became more aware of the potential for something like this to happen, and that’s where I stood,” Carlson mentioned. “So, it wasn’t a total blindside or anything like that. Maybe the timing of the whole situation was a little wacky, but I guess that’s just part of it and whatnot. But I’m excited, thrilled to be with the Ducks.”
In the ultimate season of an eight-year, $64 million contract he signed within the days after he helped the Capitals win the Stanley Cup for the primary time in 2018, Carlson can grow to be an unrestricted free agent after the season. Carlson’s agent, Rick Curran, had been in talks with Washington a few new contract, however Patrick mentioned he knowledgeable them about two weeks in the past that he needed to pause discussions with the workforce’s hopes of qualifying for the Stanley Cup Playoffs fading.
“At the time, we were four points out of the playoffs,” Patrick mentioned. “I said, ‘Teams are calling. I don’t know if something’s going to happen. I don’t necessarily want something to happen, but I also have to do my job. And if there’s an offer there that I think makes sense, then we’ll have to pursue it.’ So, I think he knew. He’s not naive to where he is in his contract status.”
In trade for Carlson, the Capitals obtained a conditional first-round decide within the 2026 NHL Draft and a third-round decide within the 2027 NHL Draft. If the Ducks don’t qualify for the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, they may have the choice to retain their first-round choice within the 2026 draft and as an alternative ship the Capitals their first-round decide within the 2027 NHL Draft.
“For us, that first-round pick is potentially a really good pick,” Patrick mentioned. “We can use it to try to add something, or we can use it to get a good player. I mean, we weren’t going to do it for just anything, for sure.”
The Ducks (35-24-3), who’re first within the Pacific Division, one level forward of the Vegas Golden Knights, try to qualify for the playoffs for the primary time for the reason that 2017-18 season and valued Carlson’s expertise and puck-moving ability. Carlson has 46 factors (10 objectives, 36 assists) in 55 video games this season and is Washington’s all-time chief amongst defensemen in objectives (166), assists (605), factors (771), power-play factors (273) and video games performed (1,143).
He jumps into the Ducks’ playoff push from the Capitals (31-25-7), who’re fifth within the Metropolitan Division, 4 factors behind the Boston Bruins for the second wild card into the playoffs from the Eastern Conference.
“I believe I can add lots of worth, each in my play and what I can do on the market, but in addition what I believe I can impart on them mentally, or via speaking and chatting,” Carlson mentioned. “I think there’s so much talent there, there’s so much fun to be had, that it’s an exciting proposition.”
Carlson sees an excellent combine in Anaheim of younger gamers and veterans. The Ducks have gamers wanting to get their first style of the playoffs comparable to forwards Leo Carlsson, 21, Cutter Gauthier, 22, Mason McTavish, 23, and Beckett Sennecke, 20, and defensemen Jackson LaCombe, 25, Pavel Mintyukov, 22, and Olen Zellweger, 22, and people, like him, who’ve been via the postseason grind earlier than comparable to forwards Chris Kreider, Mikael Granlund, and Alex Killorn and defensemen Jacob Trouba and Radko Gudas.
“They’ve received all of the makings of a workforce that is greater than able to (going deep within the playoffs),” Carlson mentioned. “So, that’s obviously very attractive to me and very advantageous and I’m grateful to land in a spot like this, really truly.”
Heading to Anaheim means forsaking, at the very least briefly, his spouse Gina, and sons Lucca, 10; Rudy, 7; and Sawyer, 5; and daughter Isabella, 2. That was among the many robust conversations Carlson had after an emotional telephone name with Patrick round 6 a.m.
“He was upset and so was I,” Patrick mentioned. “But he’s a pro. I was expecting him to be angry, and he wasn’t angry. He understood, and I think he was just sad that it ended this way.”
Carlson additionally had emotional conversations with longtime Capitals teammates Alex Ovechkin and Tom Wilson, in addition to former teammates T.J. Oshie and Nicklas Backstrom. But he didn’t take lengthy to begin wrapping his thoughts across the alternative forward of him with the Ducks.
“I’ve had a very long run here, a lot of great friendships on and off the ice, in the community and not, that I’m going to miss,” Carlson mentioned. “And to have a household and to be away and have to transfer them possibly throughout the nation, these are all huge issues in life. [But] it’s an thrilling time. It’s a fantastic workforce to come to. I believe they’re loaded with expertise, loaded with some character guys that I’m actually wanting ahead to taking part in with after seeing them on TV, seeing the video games towards them.
“So, I’m excited to take on this new challenge.”
