John Carlson‘s name may have entered the rumor mill, but the man himself doesn’t think he’s going anywhere before the NHL’s trade deadline on Friday.
According to The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta, Carlson, who has a 10-team no-trade list in his contract, is not expecting to be dealt out of DC. If he stays, the Washington Capitals are expected to resume contract extension talks with the veteran defenseman “at some point” well after the deadline.
Carlson, a Capitals alternate captain since the 2019-20 campaign, has spent his entire 17-season career with the club after being selected in the first round of the 2008 NHL Draft. He has gone on to become the franchise’s all-time leader among defensemen in games played (1,143), goals (166), assists (605), and points (771).
Given his status with the franchise, Carlson would likely be part of the discussion or given a heads-up if the Capitals’ front office were planning to move him.
The news from Pagnotta comes shortly after The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reported that the Caps are receiving calls from teams to gauge Carlson’s availability ahead of the deadline.
Carlson is currently playing in the final season of the eight-year, $64 million contract he signed with the Washington Capitals in 2018. The two-time NHL All-Star, currently sitting out due to a lower-body injury, has recorded 46 points (10g, 36a) through 55 games this year.
According to @AFPAnalytics, a Carlson extension is expected to cost approximately $6.15 million for three years. Per PuckPedia, the Capitals are currently projected to have $34.5 million in cap space in the offseason.
While Carlson may not be on the move, another member of the Capitals’ defense corps could be dealt by Friday.
The team is expecting to get top prospect Cole Hutson on their roster at some point this month, and it has already been reported that the Caps may make Trevor van Riemsdyk available to free up a roster spot and ice time for Hutson.
