Ducks acquire John Carlson from Capitals for draft picks
The Anaheim Ducks acquired defenseman John Carlson from the Washington Capitals in exchange for a conditional first-round pick in either 2026 or 2027, as well as a 2027 third-round pick.
The first to report the trade was Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.
John Carlson is being traded to Anaheim
In a press release announcing the trade, Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said Carlson brings “leadership, character, a high hockey IQ and a presence” to the Ducks lineup.
“We are very excited to add a Stanley Cup winner to complement our group and make a big push down the stretch,” Verbeek added.
TRADE: We have acquired John Carlson from the Washington Capitals! Details ⬇️ nhl.com/ducks/news/duc…
Carlson has 10 goals and 36 assists for 46 points, averaging 22:52 in 55 games with the Capitals in 2025-26. The 36-year-old blueliner led all Washington skaters in assists.
He joins a Ducks squad that’s 34-24-3 with 71 points, which ranks second in the Pacific Division.
Follow every move with the Daily Faceoff 2026 NHL Trade Deadline Tracker
Through 17 NHL seasons, Carlson, a native of Natick, Mass., has 166 goals and 605 assists for 771 points in 1,143 career regular-season games, all with the Capitals. He’s posted nine 10-plus goal seasons, seven 50-point campaigns and has reached the 70-point mark three times.
His 771 points rank 24th all-time among NHL defenseman, and fifth among active blueliners. He also holds the Capitals’ franchise record for goals, assists, points, power-play points and games played among defenders.
He’s also played in 137 playoff games, where he’s recorded 21 goals and 57 assists for 78 points. In 2018, he was part of Washington’s first Stanley Cup championship in franchise history, where he scored five goals and added 15 assists for 20 points in 24 games, averaging 25:38 of ice time.
Carlson was a Norris Trophy finalist in 2019-20, a season that saw him reach career highs with 15 goals and 60 assists for 75 points.
He has also represented the United States on the international stage on numerous occasions. He was part of the U.S. men’s team at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, as well as the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. He helped the U.S. win a gold medal at the 2010 World Junior Championship.