- John Carlson says he’s “open for sure” to staying in Anaheim
- The 36-year-old defenseman hits unrestricted free agency July 1
- Read below for what the Ducks have actually discussed with Carlson
John Carlson left the door wide open to a return to Anaheim.
Asked directly Friday at the Ducks’ breakdown day whether he wanted to re-sign, the 36-year-old defenseman didn’t hedge:
“Yeah, I mean, I’m open for sure. I think there’s no bones about that. I think this is a special place that is coming into a special time with the players here, and the organization, and all that.”
Vegas eliminated the Ducks in six games in the second round last week, ending Carlson’s first playoff run outside of Washington.
Watch Carlson speak alongside fellow vets Radko Gudas and Jacob Trouba about potential extensions:
Specific numbers haven’t come up yet. The two sides held exploratory talks earlier this month, but Carlson said Friday they haven’t discussed any concrete figures, answering “No” when asked.
Anaheim acquired Carlson from Washington at the March 6 deadline for a conditional 2026 first-round pick and a 2027 third-rounder. The Ducks clinching a playoff spot in April converted that conditional pick to a 2026 first, leaving the Caps with two firsts in next month’s draft.
Carlson finished with 20 points (4 G, 16 A) in 28 combined regular-season and playoff games with the Ducks. He had one assist across the second-round series against Vegas.
A reunion in Washington is also on the table. Caps GM Chris Patrick said last week the team is in the market for a right-shot defenseman this summer, though tampering rules kept him from speaking about Carlson by name. AFP Analytics projects Carlson’s next contract at three years and a $6.2 million cap hit.
Family ties also factor in. Carlson and his wife Gina built deep roots in the DC area across 17 seasons with the Capitals.
He’s planning to take his time with this one. Asked what comes next:
“Well, I mean, that’s the part of it that I don’t have answers for right now. I certainly loved it here. There’s a lot of moving parts to that to properly answer the question. But, yeah, I’ve loved my time. It’s a special place here for sure, with some extraordinary talent and a really bright future.”
