The Washington Capitals are reportedly receiving calls from teams, gauging the availability of veteran defenseman John Carlson ahead of the trade deadline. Carlson, 36, is a pending unrestricted free agent and has been out with a lower-body injury. The Capitals are rumored to be buyers at the deadline, but there are whispers that teams might still try to pry away one of their top veterans.
According to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun, the Capitals are indeed receiving calls from interested parties. LeBrun suggests that Carlson, who is in the final season of his eight-year, $64 million contract, could be a surprising trade candidate. However, he believes it's unlikely Carlson gets dealt because Washington wants to remain competitive and doesn't want to disrupt the team's dynamics.
Carlson, a two-time NHL All-Star, has been an effective and productive defenseman for the Capitals. This season, he has recorded 46 points (10 goals, 36 assists) through 55 games. If he hits the 50-point mark, it will mark the third straight campaign he achieves this feat. His presence on the ice has significantly impacted the Capitals' performance, with the team seeing a high percentage of shot attempts, expected goals, and scoring chances when Carlson is on the ice.
The Capitals' general manager, Chris Patrick, confirmed that extension talks began earlier this season. Carlson is the team's all-time leader among defensemen in games played, goals, assists, and points. He recently became the 21st defenseman in NHL history to record 600 assists. However, with Carlson's role slightly diminishing and Jakob Chychrun taking over some of his responsibilities, the Capitals might need a substantial offer to consider trading him.
The potential trade could be compared to the Calgary Flames' deal with the Vegas Golden Knights for Rasmus Andersson. The Flames received Zach Whitecloud, a prospect, and multiple draft picks in return. While an eventual deal for Carlson is unlikely, the framework of a possible trade could be substantial, especially if the Capitals are satisfied with their playoff position after their upcoming game.
