John Carlson Informs Ducks He's Heading Back East
It was a fun ride in Anaheim for veteran defenseman John Carlson, but the pending unrestricted free agent has let the Ducks know that he's one and done on the West Coast, and he'll be heading to free agency on July 1 for a return to the East.
Per @PierreVLeBrun, John Carlson will be hitting the open market on July 1st.
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 16, 2026
The 36 year old right handed defenseman still had 60 points in 71 games this season. pic.twitter.com/x7wMZWecYa
Insider Pierre LeBrun writes in The Athletic that the 36-year-old D-man will be in for a big contract, wherever he signs.
John Carlson is headed to market. His agent, Rick Curran, has informed Anaheim Ducks GM Pat Verbeek of that. Both sides talked about a potential extension, but Carlson is moving on...There will be strong interest in the 36-year-old star defenseman. At least four or five teams in the East will be in on him.
His agent, Curran, told LeBrun that he had some good conversations with Verbeek, but in the end, "(Carlson's) preference is to return and play in the East, closer to family and the familiarity with it. "
UFA John Carlson headed back East, at least two teams linked
Among the "four or five teams" that LeBrun refers to, we can assume that the Capitals—the team Carlson spent all but these past three months of his 17-year career with—would be one of them. The insider says the two sides were even working on a two-year extension at a $9M AAV before the Caps pivoted and decided to sell at the deadline.
But LeBrun also links the Tampa Bay Lightning to Carlson, "if they lose pending unrestricted free agent Darren Raddysh to free agency."
Carlson, even at age 36, had another tremendous season, posting 60 points in 71 games combined between Washington and Anaheim.
We revealed a report on Monday that pegged the veteran's next contract at a monster price, even higher than $9M AAV.
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