Anaheim Ducks defenseman John Carlson is a pending UFA, and ESPN analyst John Buccigross has linked the veteran defenseman with the Florida Panthers.
The Florida Panthers don’t have many holes to fill on their roster this off-season; the only goal is to enter the season healthy and stay that way throughout the regular season.
That doesn’t mean they won’t add to their roster, as a new report indicates that the Panthers could be linked to veteran defenseman John Carlson.
John Buccigross, an ESPN analyst, on the Frankly Hockey show, was discussing the future of pending UFA John Carlson. Carlson spent the first 16 and a half seasons with the Washington Capitals, winning a Stanley Cup and recording 166 goals and 771 points in 1143 games. Throughout his tenure with the Capitals, Carlson finished in the top five in Norris Trophy voting three times.
But at the 2026 NHL trade deadline, the Capitals and Anaheim Ducks shocked the hockey world as they pulled off a deal that sent Carlson to the Ducks.
The move paid off for the Ducks as they steadied their fall in the standings and earned a playoff spot. The Ducks pulled off an upset in the first round against the Edmonton Oilers but came up short against the Vegas Golden Knights.
He finished the post-season with six assists in 12 games.
Although there was a level of success in Anaheim, and he provides the organization with the veteran leadership they need, there is uncertainty about whether he wants to re-sign.
Buccigross mentioned that Carlson may want to return to the East Coast, and he can see the 36-year-old in Florida or the Panthers’ rival, the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Carlson would fit nicely in Florida. He could play on the third pairing with the steady Dmitry Kulikov, while Seth Jones and Aaron Ekblad eat the top four minutes on the right side of the Panthers blueline.
He would also provide a much-needed second power play quarterback. Jones had done a solid job on the top unit when healthy, but the Panthers have struggled to find a quarterback on the second pairing, as Ekblad and Gustav Forsling don’t excel in that role like Carlson would.
Although Uvis Balinskis has shown to be effective on the third pairing, Carlson would provide a massive upgrade, and it would allow Balinskis to serve as the seventh defenseman.
Carlson would truly solidify the Panthers’ blueline.
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