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John Carlson signed a $ 64 million eight-year contract (average annual value of $ 8 million) with the Washington Capitals on Sunday.
The 28-year-old defenseman, who could have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1, led the NHL defensemen in 2017-18 with 68 points (15 goals, 53 assists), 13 more than his previous record of the NHL in 2014-2014. 15
"John has been an outstanding and consistent player for our franchise and he's flourished to become one of the best advocates in the NHL," said General Manager Brian MacLellan. "Defender like John is a rare commodity in our league and, at age 28, we believe that he's just coming into the prime of his life. As a right-handed defender, John plays in all key situations and greatly contributed to the success of our team. We are pleased that both parties have agreed and that he continues his great career as Washington's Capital. "
Carlson has collected 20 points (five goals, 15 assists) in 24 games in the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs, the best of the defensemen, to help the Capitals win the Cup for the first time in their 43-year history .
Selected by Washington in the first round (No. 27) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, Carlson has 333 points (77 goals, 256 assists) in nine seasons with the Capitals.
Although Carlson was born in Natick, Massachusetts, and raised in Colonia, New Jersey, he said he considers the Washington area as his home. He lives there during the offseason and plans to have his day with the Stanley Cup this summer.
Video: VGK @ WSH, Gm4: Carlson launches a self-timer for PPG
"I've lived here every summer since I've been here," Carlson said on June 13th. "It's my base and obviously the guys I've been around, the experiences we've had, I love the area and that's all I know." "
But Carlson acknowledged at the time that more would be in his decision than his desire to stay with the Capitals. If he had reached the UFA market, he would have been one of the most coveted players.
The interview period for free agents began on Sunday, and Carlson's agent, Rick Curran, said late in the morning that he had started answering phone calls from other teams while continuing to negotiate with the Capitals.
Carlson's new contract more than doubles AAV's $ 3.96 million on its $ 23.8 million six-year expiring contract that it signed in 2012. To create a salary cap in the NHL, Carlson and Washington traded their goalie Philipp Grubauer and defender Brooks Orpik at the Colorado Avalanche on Friday for the No. 47 pick of the 2018 NHL Draft.
Orpik, 37, still has a season on his five-year contract with a salary charge of $ 5.5 million. According to multiple reports, Avalanche has placed Orpik on Saturday unconditional waivers in order to buy the rest of his contract.
Grubauer, 26, could have become a free agent with restrictions on July 1, but signed a three-year contract with Avalanche on Saturday.
"Both [Orpik] and [Grubauer] MacLellan said on Friday, "You do not like exchanging good people, but that's what we had to do to get ahead with the team."
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