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Washington Capitals: All-time defensemen lineup

By Michael Marzzacco

NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 08: Former Washington Capitals captain Rod Langway is shown with his former general manager, David Poile, prior to the NHL game between the Nashville Predators and Anaheim Ducks, held on March 8, 2018, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. Langway was Poile's first major trade and his first captain. (Photo by Danny Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 08: Former Washington Capitals captain Rod Langway is shown with his former general manager, David Poile, prior to the NHL game between the Nashville Predators and Anaheim Ducks, held on March 8, 2018, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. Langway was Poile's first major trade and his first captain. (Photo by Danny Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The second pair

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – 1988: The New Jersey Devils’ Scott Stevens takes a break in front of his teams bech during the Patrick Division Finals against the Washington Capitals at the Meadowlands Arena circa 1987-88 season in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Focus on Sport via Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – 1988: The New Jersey Devils’ Scott Stevens takes a break in front of his teams bech during the Patrick Division Finals against the Washington Capitals at the Meadowlands Arena circa 1987-88 season in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Focus on Sport via Getty Images) /

Scott Stevens-John Carlson

LAS VEGAS, NV – JUNE 07: John Carlson #74 of the Washington Capitals carries the Stanley Cup in celebration after his team defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 4-3 in Game Five of the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Final at the T-Mobile Arena on June 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – JUNE 07: John Carlson #74 of the Washington Capitals carries the Stanley Cup in celebration after his team defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 4-3 in Game Five of the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Final at the T-Mobile Arena on June 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

The middle pair features two of the best two-way defenders in Capitals history. Scott Stevens was drafted fifth overall in the 1982 NHL entry draft and scored on his first shot on his very first shift as an 18-year old, making an immediate impact on a Capitals team destined to turn the corner. Stevens finished third in the Calder Trophy voting at the conclusion of his rookie year.

Everyone talks about Rod Langway being the main face of the “Save the Caps” movement and rightfully so, but another big face in that surge that put the Caps in the playoffs year after year was Stevens. The Capitals made the playoffs in each of his eight seasons and games at the Capital Centre were the hottest ticket in town.

John Carlson is more than just a defenseman, he’s an American hero. The Massachusetts native was drafted by the Capitals in the first round at 27th overall in 2008. He’s the only defenseman that’s on the active Capitals roster among this list and he enters his age-30 season with a chance to lead the defensive corps with Brooks Orpik’s retirement.

Carlson is coming off his best season recording a career-high 57 assists and 70 points along with 13 goals. Whether it’s Karl Alzner or Michal Kempny, Carlson has always been the premier shutdown partner and CC middle pair would be deadly in Washington.

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