Well-paid Carlson elevates play
Teammates recognize steady defender as one of best on blue line
Of all the highs for John Carlson last season — a first Stanley Cup, a career year with 15 goals and 53 assists and a big new contract worth $64 million over eight years — he and Capitals coach Todd Reirden fell short for one goal they set together four years ago.
“Definitely getting that top-three [finish] for the Norris [Trophy] is something that he and I have had some different plans over the years in terms of the expectations for him,” Reirden said. Carlson finished fifth in voting for the award, which recognizes the NHL’s best defenseman. Tampa Bay’s Victor Hedman won it, ahead of Nashville’s P.K. Subban and Los Angeles’ Drew Doughty.
“Whether it happens or not is not really on me,” Carlson said. “I know I can play better and be better, but I’m not going to be running any campaigns.”
Then allow his teammates to lobby on his behalf.
“Last year, he got robbed for the Norris, I think,” center Nicklas Backstrom said. “If you look around the league and look at all the defensemen, I mean, John Carlson is the guy that I would pick first. The work he does on a nightly basis, no one else does.”
After Carlson led all defensemen in scoring last season with 68 points and then got rewarded with a rich contract - his $8 million salary cap hit is tied for second among NHL blueliners - the expectations for him are even higher. He’s handled them well so far with three goals and six assists through Washington’s first six games. Five of those assists have come on the Capitals’ hot power play, which is scoring at a 39.1 percent clip to start the season. Playing on both special teams, he’s averaging 26 minutes per game, which has him on pace for a new career high in time on ice. He averaged 24:47 minutes per game last season. At five-on-five, Washington has scored eight goals when Carlson has been on the ice this year while surrendering three. Capitals defenseman John Carlson, left, keeps Toronto’s Frederik Gauthier from the puck during a game at Capital One Arena on Saturday.
The Capitals’ blue line was suspect for the majority of last season, and the team challenged Carlson with the heaviest workload of his career while also often rotating defense partners. He’s expected to enjoy more stability this season with Michal Kempny back on his left side. Kempny’s smooth skating, in particular his speed getting back for loose pucks or chances against, should allow Carlson to be more aggressive offensively.
Against the New York Rangers on Wednesday night, he finished with three points, scoring Washington’s lone even-strength goal with a slap shot off a faceoff. Then on the team’s first two power plays, he teed up Alex Ovechkin’s one-timers from the left faceoff circle. The highlights ultimately showed Ovechkin’s two goals or defenseman Matt Niskanen’s overtime game-winner, but within the locker room, Carlson’s impressive performance didn’t go unnoticed.
“He flies under the radar a little bit just with our overall team success sometimes,” Reirden said. “In the past when we’ve worked together, we’ve used that as incentive and a chance to motivate and continue to push forward to get to where his ultimate goal is, to be at the top.”
“He dominates the game,” Niskanen said. “Moves the puck well, skates well for a big man, can defend. He’s got that offensive feel for the game and offensive touch — big shot. He’s a good player. We need him.”
Carlson’s never been named to an All-Star Game, and Reirden said he was disappointed when he was passed over for that last season. Though Carlson is animated in practices, his attitude off the ice is generally laid back. He downplayed pressure to live up to his new contract. “If I score 150 goals this season, you can’t redo it,” he said. “Realistically, you’ve already earned what you’ve gotten. Then it comes down to just pride in yourself to want to be the best version of me.” When was asked if he expected a higher Norris finish than last season, he shrugged that off, too.
“I don’t know. At the end of the day, I got what I wanted,” he said, referring to the team’s championship. “That’s all that matters. . . . Things have been going pretty well so far, but it’s not about that for me. I just want to play good hockey and put people in positions to succeed. I feel confident in my game, I know what I’m capable of and I want to be the best that I can be.”