John Carlson, one of the greatest players in Capitals history, traded to Ducks for draft picks
In a late night stunner, the Washington Capitals traded star defenseman John Carlson to the Anaheim Ducks for a conditional first-round pick in either the 2026 or 2027 NHL Draft and a third-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft. The Capitals are not retaining any of Carlson’s $8 million cap hit in the trade.
The deal was first reported at 1:08 AM by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. The Capitals officially announced the full trade moments later.
Carlson’s trade marked the Capitals’ second major deal in the last 24 hours after sending Nic Dowd to the Vegas Golden Knights for draft picks and a depth goaltender.
“Since joining our organization 17 years ago, John Carlson has exemplified what it means to be a Washington Capital every day,” general manager Chris Patrick said in a statement. “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.”
Carlson, an alternate captain with the Capitals since the 2019-20 season, has 46 points (10g, 36a) in 55 games this year. The 36-year-old defender had previously spent his entire 17-season career with the club after being selected in the first round of the 2008 NHL Draft. Carlson is the franchise’s all-time leader among defensemen in games played (1,143), goals (166), assists (605), and points (771).
John Carlson’s all time ranking among Capitals defenseman:
Games Played: 1,143 (1st)
Goals: 166 (1st)
Points: 771 (1st by 297)
Cups: 1 (T1)
The Capitals Greatest D-Man Ever just got traded at 1am. 😳 pic.twitter.com/BZTuwRQGkC
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) March 6, 2026
The deal is truly an end of an era as the two-time NHL All-Star also helped lead the Capitals to their first Stanley Cup in 2018. Carlson led all defensemen during that run in playoff scoring with 20 points (5g, 15a) in 24 games. With Carlson’s departure, only Alex Ovechkin and Tom Wilson remain from that championship-winning roster. Ovechkin is currently in the final year of his contract and his future beyond this season remains unknown.
According to hockey insider Frank Seravalli, the two teams agreed to the deal earlier in the day and kept it under wraps until after midnight ET for the official trade call with the league office. The Ducks were not on Carlson’s 10-team, no-trade list, so he didn’t have to waive anything. Carlson, who is in the final season of an eight-year, $64 million deal, does not have a contract extension in place with the Ducks, and the two parties aren’t currently discussing one.
The conditions on the first-round pick that the Capitals negotiated are that if the Ducks make the playoffs this season, the Capitals will get their 2026 selection. If the Ducks fail to qualify for the postseason, they have the option to retain their 2026 pick and instead send their 2027 first-round pick to the Caps.
Anaheim currently sits second in the NHL’s Pacific Division with 71 standings points. They are three points ahead of the third-place Edmonton Oilers and seven points ahead of the San Jose Sharks, who are the first Western Conference team on the outside of the playoff picture looking in.
The Capitals now own 22 total draft picks in the next three drafts, including four first-round selections and nine picks in the first three rounds.
2026
1st (*x2), 4th (x2), 5th, 6th and 7th
2027
1st, 2nd, 3rd (x2), 4th, 5th, 7th (x2)
2028
1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th
*I listed the #ALLCAPS as having 2 1st round picks this year but that 2nd 1st round pick could slide to next year per conditions of the Carlson trade. https://t.co/aEsBgw847y
— Tarik El-Bashir (@Tarik_ElBashir) March 6, 2026
Here’s the full press release from the Anaheim Ducks:
ANAHEIM DUCKS ACQUIRE JOHN CARLSON FROM WASHINGTON
Defenseman led Capitals to 2018 Stanley Cup; His 771 career regular-season points rank 24th among all-time NHL defensemen and fifth among active NHL blueliners.
ANAHEIM, Calif. – The Anaheim Ducks today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has acquired defenseman John Carlson from the Washington Capitals for a conditional first-round pick in either the 2026 or 2027 NHL Draft and a 2027 third-round selection.
“John Carlson brings leadership, character, a high hockey IQ and a presence to our lineup,” said Ducks General Manager Pat Verbeek. “We are very excited to add a Stanley Cup winner to complement our group and make a big push down the stretch.”
Carlson, 36 (1/10/90), has scored 10-36=46 points with a +11 rating in 55 games with the Capitals this season, leading all Washington skaters in assists while he was second in points and goals. At this time of his acquisition, he ranked 11h among NHL defensemen in points and assists.
Selected by Washington in the first round (27th overall) of the 2008 NHL Draft, Carlson has scored 166-605=771 points with a +114 rating and 390 penalty minutes (PIM) in 1,143 career games with Washington in 17 seasons from to 2009-10 to 2025-26. Carlson’s 771 career points rank 24th among all-time NHL defensemen and fifth among active NHL blueliners. He led all-time Capitals defensemen in goals, assists, points, power play points (273) and games played. Among all-time Capitals skaters, he ranked second in appearances and plus/minus, third in assists and fifth in points.
Carlson helped the Capitals to the 2018 Stanley Cup championship, leading all defensemen in the playoffs with 5-15=20 points in 24 games. He made 14 postseason appearances with the Capitals, earning 21-57=78 points in 137 career Stanley Cup Playoff contests.
The 6-3, 220-pound defenseman was a Norris Trophy runner-up in 2019-20 and named to the NHL First All-Star Team in 2019-20 that season after scoring a career-high 15-60=75 points. He was also named to the Second All-Star Team in 2018-19, and to the 2010-11 NHL All-Rookie Team. Carlson led all NHL defensemen in points on two occasions, including 2017-18 (15-53=68) and 2019-20. He has scored 10 or more goals nine different seasons while tallying 50 points or more seven times. He reached the 70-point mark on three occasions: 2018-19 (13-57=70), 2019-20 and 2021-22 (17-54=71).
A native of Natick, Mass., Carlson has represented Team USA at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi (1-1=2 points in six games) and the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. He led his country to a gold medal at the 2010 World Junior Championship, scoring the game-winning goal in the gold medal game.
Carlson helped the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL) to back-to-back Calder Cup championships in 2009 and 2010, scoring the championship clinching goal in 2010. He was named to the AHL All-Rookie team and an AHL All-Star in 2009-10 after scoring 4-35=39 points with a +37 rating. He spent one season in the Ontario Hockey League, scoring 16-60=76 points in 59 games with the London Knights in 2009-09 where he was an OHL Second Team All-Star and named London’s MVP.
Conditions of first-round pick in trade:
The conditional first-round pick shall be Anaheim’s 2026 first-round pick. If Anaheim fails to qualify for the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, then Anaheim will retain its 2026 first-round pick and shall instead transfer its 2027 first-round pick to Washington (subject to the Option below).
If Anaheim fails to qualify for the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, then Anaheim shall have the option to transfer its 2026 first-round pick to Washington instead of Anaheim’s 2027 first-round pick. To exercise this option, Anaheim shall notify Washington of the option exercise no later than immediately after the selection of the draft pick preceding Anaheim’s first-round selection in the 2026 NHL Draft.
