On their way to returning to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2018, the Anaheim Ducks acquired John Carlson, who won the Stanley Cup in 2018, in a trade with the Washington Capitals at the NHL Trade Deadline, and he helped them to an opening round series win over the Edmonton Oilers.
But Carlson and the Ducks would be defeated in the Western Conference Semifinal by the Vegas Golden Knights, bringing an end to their season. Carlson, who is a pending unrestricted free agent, has since informed Ducks GM Pat Verbeek that he intends to test free agency and won’t be back with the club for next season.
Carlson informed Verbeek through his agent, Rick Curran, who said that his client enjoyed his time with the Ducks but that his preference is to return to playing on the East Coast as he had done for his entire career with Washington prior to the trade with the Ducks.
“I’ve had good discussions with Pat,” Curran told The Athletic on Tuesday. “I told him how much John enjoyed his time in Anaheim. But his preference is to return and play in the East, closer to family and the familiarity with it. Pat was naturally disappointed but completely understood.”
Carlson played 16 regular-season games with the Ducks, scoring four goals and adding 10 assists. He also added six assists in 12 postseason games. Over the course of his NHL career, Carlson has scored 170 goals with 650 assists in 1,159 games with the Capitals and Ducks. He’s also represented the United States multiple times in international competition.
The post John Carlson will not re-sign with Ducks, per agent appeared first on ClutchPoints.
