John Carlson has spent his entire 15-year professional hockey journey with the Washington Capitals, claiming a Stanley Cup victory with the team in 2018 and solidifying his status as one of the franchise’s premier defensemen along the way.
On the upcoming Saturday night, the 34-year-old will mark his 1,000th game as the Capitals host the Boston Bruins at Capital One Arena. Carlson, a former first-round draft pick, expressed his anticipation for reaching this significant milestone, reflecting on how distant such achievements felt when he first entered the league.
His entry into the millennium club will make him the third player in Capitals history to do so, and notably, the first defenseman. Surpassing Calle Johansson’s 984-game record with the team, Carlson joins the ranks of Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom, who have already achieved this feat, with Ovechkin having participated in 1,416 games and Backstrom in 1,105.
Selected by the Capitals as the 27th overall pick in the 2008 NHL Draft, Carlson cherishes the rarity of playing every game for a single franchise, emphasizing the deep connections and history he shares with the organization.
The timing of Carlson’s milestone aligns with the Capitals’ current push for a playoff spot. Following a disappointing season in 2023, the team has rallied in the latter half of the 2023-24 campaign, securing a position in the playoff race. With crucial games ahead, including the one against the Bruins, the Capitals are vying for both a higher seed in their division and a chance at redemption against the Carolina Hurricanes, who ousted them in the previous playoffs.
While the focus remains on the immediate challenges, Carlson’s impending achievement serves as a testament to his remarkable career and contributions, both on and off the ice. As he prepares to hit this milestone, he will receive well-deserved recognition from the devoted hockey community in the only city he’s ever called home.