Pierre LeBrun writes in The Athletic<\/a> that the 36-year-old D-man will be in for a big contract, wherever he signs.\u00a0<\/p>\nJohn Carlson is headed to market. His agent, Rick Curran, has informed Anaheim Ducks GM Pat Verbeek of that. Both sides talked about a potential extension, but Carlson is moving on…\u00a0<\/p>\n
There will be strong interest in the 36-year-old star defenseman. At least four or five teams in the East will be in on him.<\/p>\n
His agent, Curran, told LeBrun that he had some good conversations with Verbeek, but in the end, “(Carlson’s)\u00a0preference is to return and play in the East, closer to family and the familiarity with it.\u00a0“<\/p>\n
UFA John Carlson headed back East, at least two teams linked<\/p>\n
Among the “four or five teams” that LeBrun refers to, we can assume that the Capitals\u2014the team Carlson spent all but these past three months of his 17-year career with\u2014would be one of them. The insider says the two sides were even working on a two-year extension at a $9M AAV before the Caps pivoted and decided to sell at the deadline.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But LeBrun also links the Tampa Bay Lightning to Carlson, “if they lose pending unrestricted free agent Darren Raddysh to free agency.”<\/p>\n
Carlson, even at age 36, had another tremendous season, posting 60 points in 71 games combined between Washington and Anaheim.\u00a0<\/p>\n
We revealed a report on Monday<\/a> that pegged the veteran’s next contract at a monster price, even higher than $9M AAV.<\/p>\n