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5 NHL teams John Carlson should stay away from in 2018-19

By C.L. Kohuss

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 05: John Carlson #74 of the Washington Capitals celebrates after scoring a first period goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on May 5, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 05: John Carlson #74 of the Washington Capitals celebrates after scoring a first period goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on May 5, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FL – MAY 11: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals celebrates a first period goal by Michal Kempny #6 against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Amalie Arena on May 11, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. The Capitals defeated the Lightning 4-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – MAY 11: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals celebrates a first period goal by Michal Kempny #6 against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Amalie Arena on May 11, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. The Capitals defeated the Lightning 4-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

1. Washington Capitals

This falls in line with our section on John Tavares. We’d love to see Carlson make the leap to another team that’s ready to contend now and in the future. Currently, the Washington Capitals are in the middle of a playoff run that’s been a decade in the making. Their top defenseman is a big reason for that. So far he has 12 points in 13 games with a plus-four rating. They could very well be in the Stanley Cup Final soon, so they fit the bill of ready to win now and in the future.

So why would he want to leave? Well, he shouldn’t want to. But it would be way more fun if he did. Imagine if you will, Carlson heads to Pittsburgh to backstop a blue line with Kris Letang. He gets to play some offensive hockey with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel. The Penguins go on to actually three-peat like they had hoped this season.

Before you throw any shoes or whatever is in your hand, it isn’t going to happen. The Penguins don’t currently have the salary room anyway unless they made moves. We’re tossing out ideas here. Or what if he and John Tavares teamed up and headed to the desert to play hockey for the Arizona Coyotes? Suddenly, the NHL at 110 degrees is sweeping the nation.

Okay, all joking aside, Carlson has a lot of options to consider. Staying with Washington is one he should look at and the Caps will make their push. But if a better offer comes around, and it matches his best overall interest, he should consider that as well. Don’t close your doors out of loyalty.

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