John Carlson Appreciation Thread

[qc14]

Another 24 minutes and 3 assists (including an absolute beauty for the game winner) last night. 3 points away from 700 in his career, averaging just over 24 minutes a night (over 3 on the PK, 15th in the league) with a 61% actual and 57% expected goal share at 5v5. Probably been the 4th best defenseman in the league this year at age 35.

Always frustrated me, especially with the recent 4 Nations snub, that he's talked about as like a slightly better Tyson Barrie and not a Hall-of-Fame caliber defenseman.

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[TD Charlie]

Dudes a gem. Always has been

 

[The Macho King]

Hall of Fame caliber? Two times second team is enough to get in nowadays?

 

[Hennessy]

He's a solid #1 with a good comparable in Steve Duchesne. Sergei Gonchar if you want to be a Caps fan.
Both were tremendous defensemen. Neither are in the Hall. What elevates Carlson to that level?

 

[FuryOfTheSwarm]

Its crazy how much his defensive game has grown in his mid 30s. He finally has proper support with Chychrun and Roy instead of dragging prospects and over the hill vets slotted way above where they should be around.

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

This could have been a good appreciation thread if you didn't throw in the words hall of famer

 

[Big Daddy Cane]

He proved himself back in 2018. Winning a Stanley Cup with Michael Kempny attached to his hip is true #1 stuff.

 

[Nogatco Rd]

Roman Yoshi stole his Norris

 

[Master P]

Its that time of year so might as well post this gem.

 

[shello]

He’s not a hall of famer but one of the best of his generation no doubt

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Love this guy

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Hall of Fame caliber? Two times second team is enough to get in nowadays?

Lets not go crazy.

 

[wickedwitch]

Hall of Fame caliber? Two times second team is enough to get in nowadays?

I think the argument would be he should have been up there far more. I think every other player on the Caps in the Ovi era gets overlooked because Ovechkin gets so much attention. In particular, I think his defensive skills are underrated. People see him as offensive defenseman, when IMO (and in the opinion of his coaches) he's very much a 2-way defenseman.

I compare him to someone like Weber who also never won a Norris -- and Carlson has a Cup.

I don't expect him to get in the Hall of Fame, but I think he would be deserving if he did.

 

[Look Up]

Made me forget about Mike Green, lol

 

[Rabid Ranger]

He’s not a hall of famer but one of the best of his generation no doubt

That get's you in the HHOF though. The bar is lower than many on this site want to admit.

 

[hamzarocks]

THis thread had me scared he died.

Great player

Him and Kris Letang are both similar level hall of famers for me

 

[qc14]

Hall of Fame caliber? Two times second team is enough to get in nowadays?

One of those is a first team. I don't think he's a lock but his resume compares extremely favorably to some recent guys to get in like Weber and Zubov as well as some other active players that are talked about like locks such as Letang and Josi.

If the Hall was how I wanted it to be, he wouldn't be in there. With how they have operated, I think he should have at least a 50/50 chance.

 

[hamzarocks]

Roman Yoshi stole his Norris

2019 --> Carlson
2021 --> Makar
2022 --> Josi
2023 --> Fox

Thats how it should have been imo

 

[qc14]

Its that time of year so might as well post this gem.

This is the goal that got me really hooked on hockey

 

[StreetHawk]

Another 24 minutes and 3 assists (including an absolute beauty for the game winner) last night. 3 points away from 700 in his career, averaging just over 24 minutes a night (over 3 on the PK, 15th in the league) with a 61% actual and 57% expected goal share at 5v5. Probably been the 4th best defenseman in the league this year at age 35.

Always frustrated me, especially with the recent 4 Nations snub, that he's talked about as like a slightly better Tyson Barrie and not a Hall-of-Fame caliber defenseman.

Could have put Carlson in over Hanifin. Faber, is more of a futures add (26 games), so I get it. Can had Pietroangelo from the same 2008 draft class in.

US seemed to pick guys who could all be selected for the 2026 games.

 

[Chukcha]

don't know about HoF but he definitely deserves his number raised up to the rafters

 

[FuryOfTheSwarm]

Hall of Fame caliber? Two times second team is enough to get in nowadays?

Not a hall of famer now but if he decides to play until 40 and doesn't drop off too much he probably is. He's been aging extremely well so far

 

[Boonk]

7th all time in NHL points among US defensemen, including 10th all time in goals.

 

[Bone Breaker]

severely underrated and a top 10 D in this league for the past decade or so.

for me, he has already surpassed one my favorite Ds when I was young, Calle Johansson, which is not an easy task. if he keeps it up for a few more years he totally should enter HoF conversation, given his numbers alone.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

I don’t know about HOF, but safe to say there won’t be anyone else wearing #74 for the Caps.

Definitely underrated and underappreciated. Whoever replaces him after he moves on or retires has big shoes to fill.