The Washington Capitals made one of the most surprising moves of the NHL trade deadline, trading John Carlson, the team’s second-longest-tenured defenseman, to the Anaheim Ducks.
Their longest-tenured player has some thoughts on that.
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After the Capitals announced the move, which will see them receive a conditional first-round pick and a third-round pick in 2027, NHL all-time leading scorer Alex Ovechkin told reporters it was a sad day:
“Obviously a sad day. Personally, it’s probably the hardest day of my career. It sucks. It’s sad.”
Ovechkin and Carlson have been teammates for 17 years, dating back to the defender’s NHL debut in 2010. Along with other franchise regulars like Nicklas Backstrom, the two presided over an era in Capitals history marked by regular playoff appearances and a Stanley Cup championship in 2017-18.
Carlson trails only Ovechkin in games played for the Capitals and only Backstrom and Ovechkin on the team’s all-time assists list. Ovechkin believes the team has never had a better blue line:
“The leader, he’s obviously the best defenseman in the history of this franchise. Obviously, he’s an incredible guy and a great friend to all of us. It’s tough. It’s a tough day.”
Alex Ovechkin and John Carlson have a history that goes way back. (Photo by Scott Teich/Getty Images)
(Scott Teich via Getty Images)
The move answers one question for the team, making it clear that general manager Brian McClellan is prioritizing the future over the 2025-26 season, but it also makes another question more pressing.
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Ovechkin becomes a free agent at the end of this season and has a salary cap hit of up to $8 million, but he has remained tight-lipped about his plans. There are indications that he wants to return to his native Russia and play in the KHL before retiring, but he has options regardless.
Asked Friday about his future with the Capitals, he basically shrugged:
“I don’t know. I’m still here, so we’ll see. We’ll see what happens, but, yeah, it’s a tough process.”
The Capitals also traded their other most senior player on Friday, sending longtime fourth-line center Nick Dodd to the Vegas Golden Knights. Ovechkin and Tom Wilson are the only Capitals active players who made their debuts before 2019.