Alexander Ovechkin was hit hard by the Washington Capitals’ decision to trade long-time teammate John Carlson to the Anaheim Ducks.
The Capitals flipped Carlson, a defenceman who had spent his entire 17-year NHL career with Washington, for a conditional first-round pick and a 2027 third-rounder on Thursday night.
“It’s a sad day. Probably the toughest day in my career…We (grew) up together,” Ovechkin said, adding he was left “in shock” by the news.
The 40-year-old winger’s future also remains in question as he plays out the last of a five-year, $47.5 million contract this season.
“I don’t know,” Ovechkin said of how the Carlson trade affects his future. “I’m still here so we’ll see. We’ll see what’s going to happen. It’s a hard one.”
Alex Ovechkin said this is the saddest day of his career personally after John Carlson was traded.
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) March 6, 2026
Carlson is also a pending unrestricted free agent, carrying a cap hit of $8 million in the last season of his deal.
Ovechkin and Carlson have been teammates since Carlson made his NHL debut during the 2009-10 season and won the Stanley Cup together in 2018.
Sitting four points back of the Boston Bruins for the final wild-card spot, the Capitals have established themselves as sellers ahead of the deadline moving Nic Dowd earlier on Thursday before the Carlson deal.