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Washington Capitals: Two NHL 20 Ratings

By Michael Marzzacco

UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - MARCH 01: Nicklas Backstrom #19, John Carlson #74 and Braden Holtby #70 of the Washington Capitals celebrate their teams 3-1 win over the New York Islanders at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on March 01, 2019 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images)
UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - MARCH 01: Nicklas Backstrom #19, John Carlson #74 and Braden Holtby #70 of the Washington Capitals celebrate their teams 3-1 win over the New York Islanders at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on March 01, 2019 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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#39 John Carlson

RALEIGH, NC – APRIL 18: Carolina Hurricanes left wing Brock McGinn (23) and Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson (74) chase a puck along the boards during a game between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Washington Capitals on April 18, 2019, at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC. (Photo by Greg Thompson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC – APRIL 18: Carolina Hurricanes left wing Brock McGinn (23) and Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson (74) chase a puck along the boards during a game between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Washington Capitals on April 18, 2019, at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC. (Photo by Greg Thompson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

89 OVR

John Carlson is finally getting the league wide recognition he deserves. EA Sports gave him an 89 overall rating and I agree with that rating myself. Carlson possess a physicality at 6-foot-3 and 218 pounds and has a power blast of a slapshot.

Carlson can play a two-way game. As he enters the season, he’ll be counted on to lead the defensive corps with the departures of Brooks Orpik to retirement and Matt Niskanen when he was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers.

Carlson will turn 30 this season and is a top candidate to become an alternate captain and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he did become one. Whether his partner was Karl Alzner or Michal Kempny, Carlson not only played great but made his pairing partners around him better.

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) /

Carlson finished the 2018-19 season with career-highs with 57 assists and 70 points to go along with 13 goals. He tied a career-high in +/- with +21. 10 of Carlson’s goals came on even strength while the other three came on the power play.

Carlson blocked 164 shots and 54 hits and averaged a career-high in ice time with 25:04 minutes per game. Overall this rating makes sense for Carlson as he’s the top ranked Capitals defensemen on the video game.

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