"I never foresaw a Capitals game without John Carlson in it. Drafted 27th overall in 2008, Carlson seemed destined to retire a Capital. He, Ovechkin, and Nicklas Backstrom defined an era of DC hockey, the only three players to ever reach the 1,000-game mark with the team. Carlson has nearly a 300-point lead on the next highest-scoring Capitals defenseman, recording 771 points."
"I was in shock, in shock mode, and me and my wife (were) kind of like, 'Wow.' I tell my kids, 'Carly get traded,' and they were like, 'What?' It's just a shock. He's obviously the best defenseman in this franchise's whole history. Obviously, an unbelievable man and a great friend for all of us. It's hard."
John Carlson's 17-year tenure with the Washington Capitals ended when the team traded him to the Anaheim Ducks for two draft picks on the trade deadline. Carlson, drafted 27th overall in 2008, became the franchise's greatest defenseman, accumulating 771 points and joining Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom as the only players to reach 1,000 games with Washington. His departure shocked teammates and the organization, with Ovechkin expressing surprise that extended to his family, who had grown close to the Carlsons. The trade followed the previous day's unexpected trade of Nic Dowd, signaling the Capitals' shift toward rebuilding as playoff chances diminished.
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