Only two players remain from the 2018 Stanley Cup team.
WASHINGTON — In the early hours of Friday, the Capitals traded away their 17-year veteran to the Anaheim Ducks for a conditional first-round pick in either the 2026 NHL Draft or the 2027 NHL Draft and a third-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft.
If Anaheim qualifies for the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Anaheim will transfer its 2026 first-round pick to Washington. If Anaheim fails to qualify for the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Anaheim will have the option to retain its 2026 first-round pick and transfer its 2027 first-round pick to Washington instead.
Alex Ovechkin and Tom Wilson are the only two players from the 2018 Stanley Cup team that are still on the roster.
Carlson, 36, recorded 46 points (10 goals, 36 assists) in 55 games with the Capitals this season and will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.
The 36-year-old is entering the final season of his eight-year, $64 million contract he signed with Washington in 2018.
Carlson has played his entire 17-season career with the Capitals and is the franchise’s all-time leader in games played (1,143), goals (166), assists (605) and points (771) among defensemen.
“Since joining our organization 17 years ago, John Carlson has exemplified what it means to be a Washington Capital every day,” said senior vice president and general manager Chris Patrick. “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.”
The Natick, Massachusetts native helped lead the Capitals to their first Stanley Cup championship in 2018, and led all defensemen in playoff scoring with 20 points (five goals, 15 assists) in 24 games played. Carlson was originally drafted by Washington in the first round, 27th overall) of the 2008 NHL Draft.
Carlson was not the only trade the Capitals made. They traded Nic Dowd to the Golden Knights on Thursday for Jesper Vikman, a second-round pick in the 2029 NHL Draft and a third-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft.
The Capitals currently have 22 total picks in the next three drafts, including four first-round selections and nine picks in the first three rounds.
The Capitals are currently hanging on to a small margin if they want to make playoffs. They sit with an overall record of 31-25-7 and are fifth in the Metropolitan Division. They are four points behind the Boston Bruins for the second wild card into the playoffs from the Eastern Conference.
However, they have to also contend with the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Ottawa Senators who are both in front of them in standings and have played two more games than them.