In one of the biggest blockbuster trades of the 2025-26 season, the Anaheim Ducks acquired John Carlson from the Washington Capitals at the 2026 Trade Deadline in exchange for a conditional first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft and a third-round pick in the 2027 Draft. Ducks fans were excited about the trade, as Carlson has a long and storied history of success in D.C. and solidified himself as one of the top defensemen in franchise history.
Carlson’s History
The veteran blueliner topped the Capitals charts with the most goals (166), assists (605), points (771), power play points (771), and total games (1,143) by a defenseman. He was also beneficial to the team in the postseason, amassing 21 goals and 57 assists across 137 playoff games. His expertise in Stanley Cup playoff games is, perhaps, one of the biggest reasons the Ducks opted for him.
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He served as an alternate captain for seven seasons in Washington, adding to his value. His leadership abilities and veteran presence add depth to Anaheim’s back end, which is highlighted by young players such as Olen Zellweger, Pavel Mintyukov, and Ian Moore. Carlson has mainly been paired with Mintyukov, as the coaching staff tends to pair up a veteran with a younger player. He, alongside veteran defenders Jacob Trouba and Radko Gudas, rounds out the defense and brings an additional layer of experience.
Carlson’s Quick Success With Ducks
While Carlson did not play for a handful of games post-trade due to an injury, he played his first game with the Ducks on March 15 against the Montreal Canadiens. In his first two games, he did not register a point, but averaged roughly 22 minutes on ice and took four shots. His first point as a Duck came from a secondary assist on Cutter Gauthier’s goal in the team’s 4-1 March 20 win against the Utah Mammoth.
From then on, it has been smooth sailing for the blueliner, who has eight points in five games and is on a four-game point streak. His showing against the Vancouver Canucks was wildly impressive — he had one primary assist and two secondary assists on goals by Alex Killorn and Mikael Granlund, respectively.
In fact, Carlson and Granlund seem to work in tandem with great success. Carlson has registered an assist on four of Granlund’s last five goals, and each had back-to-back multi-point games against the Canucks and the Calgary Flames. When you put two talented veteran players together, impressive things can happen. The defenseman has always been a playmaker, especially when paired alongside powerful and accurate shooters like Granlund.
Carlson also scored his first goal as a Duck during his hot streak. In the team’s 5-4 overtime loss to the Maple Leafs, he got the puck from Jackson LaCombe and fired a quick snap shot that went bar down behind Anthony Stolarz. His efforts gave his team a 3-1 lead, but they ultimately fell short.
Because of his tremendous start in Anaheim, he was named the NHL’s third star of the week on Monday. The league noted that he is the first defenseman in franchise history to record eight assists in his first seven games with a team, passing Jeff Friesen in 2000-01 and J.J. Daigneault in 1996-97, who each had seven points in as many games. He has 11 goals and 44 assists for 55 points this season, and is on pace to end the regular season with 62.
As the season winds down and the Ducks head into the playoffs for the first time in many years, having a player as skilled and experienced as Carlson will be nothing but beneficial. Not only will he perform to the best of his abilities each game, but he will be able to bring a wealth of knowledge and know-how that many Ducks players do not yet have.
Whether the veteran stays with the Ducks after the conclusion of their season still remains a question, as he will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. At 36 years old, his career is nearing its finale, but he has more than proven that he has no intentions of quitting anytime soon. He and the Ducks will face the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday to start the final stretch of the regular season.
