Late last night, while most of the East Coast was already well asleep, the Washington Capitals were in the middle of making one of the most stunning trades in recent memory. The Capitals dealt defenseman John Carlson, a cornerstone piece of the 2018 Stanley Cup run, to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for a 2026 first-round pick and a 2027 third-round pick.
The move came as a complete shock to not only the fanbase, but also to the locker room. This comes one day after Washington dealt longtime forward Nic Dowd to the Vegas Golden Knights. Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin spoke to the media Friday following the news.
“It’s a sad day, probably the toughest of my career,” Ovechkin said.
Other Capitals players like Tom Wilson, Dylan Strome, and Connor McMichael also expressed sadness over the news. “I’ve seen his kids grow up, man, it’s tough,” Wilson said about the departure of his longtime friend and teammate.
In over 1,100 career games, Carlson amassed over 750 career points and appeared in four All-Star games, including 3 straight from 2017-2019. He holds numerous franchise records for defensemen.
1st all-time in games played by a defenseman (1,143)
1st all-time in goals by a defenseman (166)
1st all-time in assists by a defenseman (605)
1st all-time in points by a defenseman (771)
1st all-time in power-play points by a defenseman
While the trade may have been a gut punch to the team and the fanbase’s morale, it is far from an unreasonable deal for a Capitals team with eyes on the years ahead. Capitals GM Chris Patrick has been under pressure to address a struggling product on the ice, and finding a balance between young upcoming talent and an aging core of veterans . With Carlson’s production slowing down at the age of 36, the Caps have been looking for a solution to an aging $8 million dollar cap hit. Just 17 days after winning the Stanley Cup in 2018, the Caps and Carlson inked an eight-year, $64 million deal that was set to expire this season.
Clearing all of Carlson’s $8 million cap hit and acquiring a first and a third in return makes this a very favorable trade for the organization.
Longtime voice of the Capitals, John Walton, gave his insight on the 106.7 The Fan with the Sports Junkies earlier this morning.
“The hockey side of it is pretty good, the human side sucks.”
The locker room was a morgue. After 15 years, the bond between John Carlson and the Capitals organization is broken. Alex Ovechkin calls it the saddest day of his career, visibly shaken. Even Tom Wilson, on the verge of tears, acknowledges the shock. #Capitals#NHLpic.twitter.com/tURM8RS5AK
The Capitals made one more move before the 3 p.m. trade deadline on Friday, acquiring San Jose Sharks defenseman Timothy Liljegren to fill the void left by Carlson. Liljegren, 26, is a promising depth player who adds some stability to the backend of the Caps. While an understandably heartbreaking day, it has also been a major step in the right direction for Washington. Many eyes will turn to elite Capitals prospect Cole Hutson as a defenseman that could eventually step into the rather large shoes of John Carlson. Washington has also acquired plenty of draft capital in the next 3 drafts, with 22 total picks, including nine in the first three rounds.
“Today sucks. It’s brutal,” an emotional Tom Wilson said after practice. “I’m sure there are some guys that want to cry. That’s the reality of it. Today you can cry and tomorrow you got to wake up and be a big boy and play hockey. We have to do our job.” #ALLCAPSpic.twitter.com/v0UItdwyya
The Capitals will have to refocus on the task ahead as their playoff chances hang by a thread. Washington will travel up to Boston tomorrow for a 12:30 puck drop that feels almost like a must-win. According to FanDuel, Spencer Carbery’s squad has a 25.6% chance of advancing to the postseason, putting them in danger of missing the playoffs for only the third time since 2008.
A lifelong DC native and sports enthusiast, Declan serves as a Digital Content Intern for SportsJourney.com. He is the host of the "Hear Me Out" podcast, featuring notable NFL players and insiders around the sports landscape. Declan has previously served as a digital and print journalist for the Woodgrove Outlander, and is currently pursuing his college degree in Communications.
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