NHL Exchange: Capitals Trade John Carlson to Ducks, Signaling a New Era
With the departure of John Carlson, Russian icon Alex Ovechkin finds himself surrounded by increasingly few familiar faces as what appears to be the twilight of his prolific career with the Washington Capitals unfolds. The trade to the Anaheim Ducks signals a clear shift in direction for the Capitals.
A Changing of the Guard
Beyond the 40-year-old veteran, only forward Tom Wilson remains among the active Capitals players who participated in the 2018 Stanley Cup victory. Since then, compatriot Evgeny Kuznetsov has returned to Russia to play in the KHL. Longtime teammate Nicklas Backstrom was sidelined with a long-term injury before retiring, and T.J. Oshie was also forced to end his career due to various injuries. Friday morning brought the news of Carlson’s trade to the Ducks in exchange for two draft picks.
“Since joining our organization 17 years ago, John Carlson has been the embodiment of what it means to be a Washington Capitals player, day in and day out,” lauded General Manager Chris Patrick, as quoted on the NHL website. “John’s determination, leadership, perseverance, as well as his skill set, have helped our organization reach new heights. He has been one of the greatest players in Capitals history.”
Impact on the Capitals and Ovechkin
Carlson’s departure is a significant shock to the Capitals’ locker room. The team, with a record of 31-25-7, still holds 69 points in the standings after 63 games this season. Having played two fewer games than many of their competitors, they were temporarily, at the time of the trade, four points out of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, currently held by the Boston Bruins.
While the organization appears to be pivoting towards a rebuild, Ovechkin is unlikely to experience the most exciting moments of his career before the current season concludes. With 921 career goals, he already leads the NHL in that category, surpassing Wayne Gretzky’s 894. However, the trade doesn’t help Ovechkin surpass another of Gretzky’s records – his 1016 total goals, including those scored in the playoffs. Ovechkin currently has 998.
Looking to the Future
The Capitals seem to be preparing for the post-Ovechkin era. They now possess 22 picks in the next three drafts, including four first-round selections. One of these picks was acquired from the Ducks in the Carlson trade. Even as a defenseman, Carlson was the second-leading assist man on Ovechkin’s goals throughout his career, behind Backstrom.
At 36, Carlson leaves Washington after playing 1143 regular-season games over 17 campaigns with the Capitals, totaling 771 points. He had a 10-team no-trade clause in his contract, but Anaheim was evidently not on that list.
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