3 deals we are glad didn’t happen at the NHL Trade Deadline

#2 John Carlson for anybody

Earlier in the season one of our contributors wrote that John Carlson had been the Capitals worst defenseman. One of my friends even suggested that the team should trade him at the trade deadline. I’m glad the Caps didn’t do that as there wasn’t a single defenseman on the market that would make up for a player like Carlson.

Carlson has 15 goals and 51 assists for 66 points. He’s got four goals in his last five games. He’s also had at least one assist in every game including four in a win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Carlson’s 66 points are good for fifth in the NHL. His 51 assists are good for seventh. And his 15 goals are good for fourth among defensemen across the league. Carlson continued his best offensive stretch of the season with a goal and an assist in last night’s loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Carlson extended his point streak to five games with four goals and seven assists. It’s a stretch that includes four multi point games and his third five game point streak of the season. With his goal in the second period, Carlson reached the 15 goal mark for the third time in his career.