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The Washington Capitals have their man, as reports suggest the Capitals have agreed to an eight-year worth $64 million with top defensman John Carlson. Bob McKenzie of TSN was first report the news.
Pierre LeBrun of the Athletic provided details of the eight-year deal that will include a $2 million signing bonus 2020-21 and 2022-23 which are both potentially lockout seasons.
Carlson has $2 million in signing bonus money for 2020-21 and another $2 million for 2022-23, the potential lockout seasons. Likely not as much as agent Rick Curran would have wanted for those 2 years but the same as Oshie/Kuznetsov also got for those 2 same years ($2 M SB)
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 24, 2018
Carlson will remain with the team that selected him in the first-round in 2008. Last season, he posted a career-high 68 points that led all NHL blue-liners during the regular season. He also added 20 points in 24 games in the postseason to lead the league among defensemen in route to the Capitals capturing their first-ever Stanley Cup championship.
Carlson’s annual average of $8 million will have him tied for second-most among defensemen with Brent Burns of the San Jose Sharks. Only P.K. Subban of the Nashville Predators has a higher AAV at $9 million.
The #Caps have now confirmed the Carlson deal. MacLellan has said all along that inking No. 74 was a priority. And, as we've seen, Mac doesn't mess around.
— Tarik El-Bashir (@Tarik_ElBashir) June 24, 2018
Capitals general manager released a statement on re-signing Carlson
Here is MacLellanās statement on re-signing Carlson: pic.twitter.com/LaaQex0Ua0
— Tarik El-Bashir (@Tarik_ElBashir) June 24, 2018
The Capitals increased their chances of re-signing Carlson when they traded Brooks Oprik and his $5.5 million cap hit along with goalie Philipp Grubauer to the Colorado Avalanche for a second-round pick on Friday shortly before the start of the NHL Draft.
