Carlson traded to Ducks by Capitals for 2 draft picks, including conditional 1st

John Carlson was traded to the Anaheim Ducks by the Washington Capitals on Thursday for a conditional first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft and a third-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft.

If the Ducks do not qualify for the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, they will have the option to retain their first-round selection in the 2026 draft and instead send the Capitals their first-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft.

"I think I can add a lot of value, both in my play and what I can do out there, but also what I think I can impart on them mentally, or through talking and chatting,” Carlson said. “I think there's so much talent there. There's so much fun to be had that it's an exciting proposition."

Carlson has 46 points (10 goals, 36 assists) in 55 games this season. He was also first on the Capitals in takeaways (35), second in time on ice (22:52) and fourth in blocks (84).

The 36-year-old defenseman is in the final season of an eight-year, $64 million contract he signed with Washington on June 24, 2018, and can become an unrestricted free agent after the season.

“It’s obviously a sad day, probably the toughest day in my career, I’m talking about personal-wise,” Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin said Friday. “It [stinks]. It’s sad.”

Selected by the Capitals in the first round (No. 27) of the 2008 NHL Draft, Carlson is Washington's all-time leader among defensemen in goals (166), assists (605), points (771), power-play points (273) and games played (1,143).

He also has 78 points (21 goals, 57 assists) in 137 Stanley Cup Playoff games, including 20 points (five goals, 15 assists) in 24 games in 2018, when he helped the Capitals win the Cup for the first time in their history.

“Since joining our organization 17 years ago, John Carlson has exemplified what it means to be a Washington Capital every day,” Washington general manager Chris Patrick said. “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.”

The Ducks (34-24-3) are second in the Pacific Division, one point behind the Vegas Golden Knights. They are attempting to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since the 2017-18 season.

“John Carlson brings leadership, character, a high hockey IQ and a presence to our lineup,” Anaheim general manager Pat Verbeek said. “We are very excited to add a Stanley Cup winner to complement our group and make a big push down the stretch.”

The Capitals (31-25-7) are fifth in the Metropolitan Division, four points behind the Boston Bruins for the second wild card into the playoffs from the Eastern Conference. They traded forward Nic Dowd to the Golden Knights on Thursday for goalie prospect Jesper Vikman, a second-round pick in the 2029 NHL Draft and a third-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft.

“It’s a tough day; it’s a lot to digest,” Washington forward Tom Wilson said. “It’s all I’ve ever known, so it's hard on the team, it's hard on the individuals. It's hard on kind of everything when you have a guy like that that's been here forever and just the guy that so many people look to for so many things. There's certain guys in the locker room that are just kind of a ‘North Star’ a little bit where you just kind of know that they’re going to try and lead you in the right direction and they're going to get it done on the ice and they're going to kind of do all of the above. He's one of those guys. 

“So, it's a tough one. It’s tough to digest for the team."