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Former Capitals defender John Carlson linked to division rival

John Carlson seems to have interest from several teams, and could be a strong fit for a Capitals' division rival
Jan 15, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson (74) shoots the puck against the San Jose Sharks during the third period at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Jan 15, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson (74) shoots the puck against the San Jose Sharks during the third period at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

When the Washington Capitals decided to trade John Carlson to the Anaheim Ducks, it came as a shock to many fans around the league. The expectation was that he would sign an extension with the Capitals, so for him to be moved came as a surprise to everyone, considering he was deemed unavailable by several reports.

Now, with his season over with the Ducks, speculation has surrounded him with fans around the league wondering where he will end up signing. In a recent episode of the 32 Thoughts podcast with Elliotte Friedman, it was suggested that Carlson could prefer a move back to the East Coast.

In a recent article from Anthony Di Marco of Daily Faceoff, the Philadelphia Flyers were linked as a team that could have legitimate interest in Carlson.

Di Marco wrote, "Daily Faceoff was told that the Flyers would be very interested in bringing Carlson in on a short term contract. If Carlson is (hypothetically) looking for a two year contract, the Flyers are prepared to hand him an AAV in the $8 million range, according to sources."

Carlson, who is 36 years old, is coming off an eight-year contract that had an $8 million cap hit. He is now an unrestricted free agent, likely looking for a short-term deal around the same price range. Last season, he had 60 points through 71 games combined between the Capitals and Ducks.

While the Flyers could be a solid fit for Carlson, it is fair to assume there will be several teams interested in him if he hits the open market, and he doesn't come to an agreement on a new deal with the Ducks.

As the offseason moves along, be sure to continue following along at Stars and Sticks as your source for news, updates, rumours, and more around the Washington Capitals.

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