The Carolina Hurricanes had a real shot at adding one of the top defensemen available this offseason after they got John Carlson’s exclusive negotiating rights from the Anaheim Ducks. But as of Wednesday afternoon, no deal is done.
Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reported that Carlson’s agent, Rick Curran, is now fielding calls from other teams. Tampa Bay and Philadelphia are reportedly among the interested parties. The Hurricanes had until noon ET to close the deal, and they couldn’t get it over the line.
Carlson, 34, is coming off another strong year. He put up 60 points in 71 games split between Washington and Anaheim, then added six assists in 12 playoff games for the Ducks. Anaheim made some noise this spring. They beat the back-to-back Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers in six games during Round 1, then pushed the Vegas Golden Knights to six games before falling short of the West Final.
The Cost of Doing Business
It stung for Ducks GM Pat Verbeek when Carlson told him he wouldn’t re-sign and planned to head back East. Especially since Verbeek gave up a first-round pick to get him from Washington. Ouch. But that’s the risk you take when you’re buying at the deadline.
Carlson is reportedly looking for at least a two-year deal with a $9 million AAV. That’s a hefty price tag, and Hurricanes GM Eric Tulsky doesn’t seem willing to match it. Smart or short-sighted? Depends on who you ask. Carlson is 34, but he’s still producing like a top-pair guy.
The Ducks have already moved on. They traded Olen Zellweger to Buffalo and sent Radko Gudas’s rights to Florida. They’re reloading the blue line on the fly.
Wednesday is Day 1 of free agency, and Carlson is the No. 1 defenseman still on the board. Where he lands could shift the balance in the East — or maybe even the West if a dark horse jumps in. Either way, this one’s far from over.
Leave a Comment