The Washington Capitals sent longtime defenseman John Carlson to the Anaheim Ducks in a late-night transaction. Carlson, who was sleeping when the trade occurred, didn’t learn about the move until Friday morning.
The Washington Capitals have sent veteran defenseman John Carlson to the Anaheim Ducks in an overnight transaction that caught the player completely off guard.
The timing of the deal was so unexpected that Carlson was fast asleep when it happened and only discovered he’d been traded when he woke up Friday morning, according to TSN’s Pierre LeBrun.
In exchange for the 36-year-old blueliner, Washington will receive a conditional first-round draft pick for either 2026 or 2027, plus a third-round selection in 2027. Should Anaheim miss the playoffs, the Ducks can hold onto their 2026 first-rounder and send their 2027 first-round pick to the Capitals instead.
Carlson’s entire NHL career has been spent with Washington after the franchise selected him in the opening round of the 2008 draft.
“Since joining our organization 17 years ago, John Carlson has exemplified what it means to be a Washington Capital every day,” Capitals general manager Chris Patrick said. “John’s determination, leadership, persistence and skill helped our franchise reach new heights and cemented him as a cornerstone and one of the greatest players in Capitals history. His contributions to our organization and the Washington, D.C., community both on and off the ice have been immeasurable. We are incredibly grateful for everything John has given to our team and wish him and his family nothing but the best moving forward with Anaheim.”
This season, Carlson has tallied 46 points through 55 contests, netting 10 goals and adding 36 assists while logging an average of 22:52 per game. He’s in the final year of his eight-year, $64 million deal and will hit unrestricted free agency this summer.
The Stanley Cup winner holds every major franchise record for Washington defensemen, including most goals (166), assists (605), points (771), power-play points (273) and games played (1,143).
“John Carlson brings leadership, character, a high hockey IQ and a presence to our lineup,” Anaheim general manager Pat Verbeek said. “We are very excited to add a Stanley Cup winner to complement our group and make a big push down the stretch.”