John Carlson re-signs with Capitals for eight years, $ 64 million

The Washington Capitals have rehired top defenseman John Carlson for a $ 64 million, eight-year contract, the team said on Sunday. Carlson was the team's top priority as a free agent after the 28-year-old had a career season with 15 goals and 53 assists and played a vital role in the Capitals winning the first Stanley Cup franchise.

An cap of $ 8 million makes Carlson the second-best-paid player on the team behind captain Alex Ovechkin.

"John has been an outstanding and consistent player for our franchise and has developed to become one of the best advocates in the NHL," said general manager Brian MacLellan in a statement. "Supporters like John are a rare commodity in our league and, at age 28, we feel that he is just entering the prime of his life. As a right-handed defender, John plays in all key situations and has greatly contributed to the success of our team on the special teams. We are pleased that both parties have reached an agreement and that he continues his great career as Washington's capital. "

MacLellan met Carlson representative Rick Curran at the NHL Draft in Dallas this weekend, and Washington cleared the captains' room Friday night by The veteran of the expedition, Brooks Orpik, and his hat trick of $ 5.5 million, were sent to the Colorado Avalanche under an agreement that also included the guardian Philipp Grubauer. MacLellan said the two teams were "very close" on Friday night, but an agreement was not reached Sunday morning as Curran began receiving calls from other interested teams early in the period of time. Six days interview. If Carlson had opened the market on July 1, he would have been the best NHL player available, but Washington was the only team that could offer him the maximum of eight years.

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"This has been my home," said Carlson two weeks ago. "I've lived here every summer since I've been here, it's my base, and obviously the guys I've been around, the experiences we've had, I love it." region, and that's all I know. "

Carlson was drafted by Washington in the first round 10 years ago, and has signed a favorable deal with the team over the last six seasons, bringing in about $ 4 million a year. Earlier this month, Arizona Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson reportedly agreed to an eight-year deal worth $ 8.25 million per season, a contract that was Carlson's main competitor. Ekman-Larsson is two years younger, but Carlson and he averaged the same number of points per game in their career. Carlson now has the third highest number of blues caps, equaling San Jose's Brent Burns, but making less than defenseman EKman-Larsson and Nashville P.K. Subban ($ 9 million).

Carlson's contract includes a $ 2 million signing bonus for the 2020-21 and 2022-23 seasons, protection for when the NHL could enter a lockout, according to the athlete Pierre LeBrun. In addition, the agreement includes a modified non-exchange clause in which Carlson may submit a non-exchange list of 15 teams in the first four years, then a list of 10 teams in the last four years of the year. contract.

Carlson made a career career in ice time (24:47) last season, establishing himself as a true No. 1 defenseman. Because the team started the season with a slimmer blue line With two rookies, Washington coaches challenged Carlson to take on a heavier workload, especially when Matt Niskanen was injured in five games of the season. Carlson is at the forefront of the Capitals' first power play unit, often responsible for setting up Ovechkin's casual players in the left-handed cashes. He also maintained an average of 2:38 per game on the penalty, and he played six times in every game of one season. He finished fifth by voting for the Norris Trophy this season, which rewards the best defenseman in the NHL.

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Carlson scored five goals and added 15 assists in the Washington playoff, setting a franchise record for a defenseman in the playoffs with 20 points.

"Johnny was really good all year," said Niskanen earlier this month. "I've been singing John's praises for a long time … He's skating well for a big guy, he's got a lot of tools and he's played very well, he's been playing his best this spring, I think." is hard to find – tall, strong, straight, offensive and patinating, he does not grow in the trees.

The Capitals still have a little over $ 13 million in maximum salaries, and the team has already made a multi-year bid to Michal Kempny, a free and unrestricted advocate, according to two people aware of the situation . These discussions are expected to continue on Monday.

Front-line right-winger Tom Wilson must also be subject to a pay raise, but as a restricted free agent, Washington has its rights, and it's rare that these players do not sign again. If the Capitals can also re-sign Kempny, they will bring back their top four defensemen with their top nine forwards, well positioned for a new Stanley Cup.