The Capitals are relying on the character of their group as they navigate what seems to be an unlikely playoff push.
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Washington has traded lifelong Capital John Carlson to the Anaheim Ducks for a conditional first rounder and a 2027 third rounder.
Washington has traded lifelong Capital John Carlson to the Anaheim Ducks for a conditional first rounder and a 2027 third rounder.
The condition on the first rounder is regarding if Anaheim makes the playoffs this year.
The condition on the first rounder is regarding if Anaheim makes the playoffs this year.
it could go to 2027, that first rounder.
it could go to 2027, that first rounder.
Mike, a pretty big trade happened, in the middle of the night.
Mike, a pretty big trade happened, in the middle of the night.
your thoughts on John Carlson as a Duck?
your thoughts on John Carlson as a Duck?
Sometime in the middle of the night, Ryan, Washington decided to be a seller, and a bit surprising.
Sometime in the middle of the night, Ryan, Washington decided to be a seller, and a bit surprising.
This is a team that only four points out of a wild card spot, and yet, you know, good on the Capitals for realizing that they’re probably not gonna win a Stanley Cup this year, probably not gonna, you know, maybe even make the playoffs.
This is a team that only four points out of a wild card spot, and yet, you know, good on the Capitals for realizing that they’re probably not gonna win a Stanley Cup this year, probably not gonna, you know, maybe even make the playoffs.
So if that’s the case, why not accrue some picks?
So if that’s the case, why not accrue some picks?
And I’m looking at it right now, and, fellow reporter T- Tareq El-Bashir had it, 22 picks in the next three drafts, Ryan.
And I’m looking at it right now, and, fellow reporter T- Tareq El-Bashir had it, 22 picks in the next three drafts, Ryan.
So this is a team that, while they’ve tried to stay contending around Alex Ovechkin, have also had a real eye on the future.
So this is a team that, while they’ve tried to stay contending around Alex Ovechkin, have also had a real eye on the future.
So I love this deal for the Capitals.
So I love this deal for the Capitals.
You asked me about the Ducks.
You asked me about the Ducks.
You know, we didn’t expect the Ducks at the beginning of the year to be in this spot, but good on Joel Quenneville and that young and upcoming Duck team to really make a push.
You know, we didn’t expect the Ducks at the beginning of the year to be in this spot, but good on Joel Quenneville and that young and upcoming Duck team to really make a push.
And when you look at how wide open the Pacific is, doesn’t surprise me that Anaheim is sort of going for it.
And when you look at how wide open the Pacific is, doesn’t surprise me that Anaheim is sort of going for it.
So you get a John Carlson, who we know can shoot the puck.
So you get a John Carlson, who we know can shoot the puck.
It’s gonna help out on the power play.
It’s gonna help out on the power play.
He’s got 10 goals this year.
He’s got 10 goals this year.
Love the move for both teams, to be honest.
Love the move for both teams, to be honest.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I think for Anaheim, this is like a nice bold step where now if you look at their blue line core, you know, some great veteran presence back there.
I think for Anaheim, this is like a nice bold step where now if you look at their blue line core, you know, some great veteran presence back there.
John Carlson joins Jacob Trouba and Radko Gudas.
John Carlson joins Jacob Trouba and Radko Gudas.
Obviously, Jackson LaCombe has been a star back there.
Obviously, Jackson LaCombe has been a star back there.
Uh- Right LaCombe actually leads them in blue line scoring.
Uh- Right LaCombe actually leads them in blue line scoring.
And I, I agree.
And I, I agree.
Obviously, John Carlson knows his way around a power play, even though it’s been tough for the Caps this year for bizarre reasons.
Obviously, John Carlson knows his way around a power play, even though it’s been tough for the Caps this year for bizarre reasons.
and, you know, on the heels of the Nick Dowd trade, it really does look like the Caps are saying, “You know what?
and, you know, on the heels of the Nick Dowd trade, it really does look like the Caps are saying, “You know what?
This might not be our year.”
This might not be our year.”
But they do have some good players already coming up, Ryan Leonard ob- obviously with the team already, Cole Hudson.
But they do have some good players already coming up, Ryan Leonard ob- obviously with the team already, Cole Hudson.
So it’s gonna be very interesting to see, you know, the sort of two fortunes of these teams going forward.
So it’s gonna be very interesting to see, you know, the sort of two fortunes of these teams going forward.
But as we have it now, we have our first, I would say, massive surprise of the deadline.
But as we have it now, we have our first, I would say, massive surprise of the deadline.
So keep it tuned here, folks.
So keep it tuned here, folks.
We got a lot, lot more analysis coming up
We got a lot, lot more analysis coming up