John Carlson, the MVP and Norris Trophy front runner (at least in our minds) is now an All Star.
For the second year in a row, Washington Capitals defense John Carlson will represent the team at the NHL All Star Game. This year’s festivities will take place in St. Louis.
Per the press release by the Caps, Carlson is the seventh defenseman in franchise history to receive multiple All Star Game selections. Carlson is having the season of his life, leading all NHL defensemen with 50 points and 37 assists.
The way the All Star Game is played is a 3-on-3 tournament format. That means Carlson will be a part of the Metropolitan Division. His fellow blue liners are Dougie Hamilton of the Carolina Hurricanes and Seth Jones of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
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The forwards that Carlson will be setting up are Kyle Palmeieri (New Jersey Devils), Matthew Barzal (New York Islanders), Artemi Panarin (New York Rangers), Travis Konecny (Philadelphia Flyers), and Jake Guentzel (Pittsburgh Penguins). The netminders are his fellow teammate Braden Holtby as well as Joonas Korpisalo of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
I can see Carlson lining up with the likes of Artemi Panarin and Jake Guentzel for most of the line rotations that likely head coach Todd Reirden will draw up. Panarin is having a 21 goal season while Guentzel has scored 19.
Carlson has 13 goals and 37 assists, good for 50 points in 40 games played. He ranks fourth among all players in the NHL in assists while timed for second among defensemen in goals.
Additionally, Carlson is the first defenseman since Paul Coffey to record 50 points in his team’s first 40 games. Coffey did it in the 1994-95 season. Carlson is one of just five defensemen to record 50 points in 50 games since 1979-80 (Coffey, Phil Housley, Brian Leetch, Al MacInnis).
Carlson has been on the ice for 24:59, raking eighth in the NHL in average ice time per game. When Carlson records a point, the Capitals are 20-5-3. Like the Capitals, who are top dogs in the NHL, Carlson is the league’s top defenseman and deserves a Norris Trophy.
He had a torrid start to the season and was named the NHL’s First Star of the Month for October, recording the second most points in that month by a defenseman with 23. Macinnis had 25 in October of 1990. That hot start in October has Carlson on pace for 102 points.
Aside from competing in the game, look for Carlson to defend his crown in the NHL’s Hardest Shot competition.