Tampa Bay Lightning Sign Defenseman John Carlson to Two-Year Contract

The Tampa Bay Lightning signed defenseman John Carlson to a two-year contract, the team announced Wednesday. Carlson, 36, will carry an $8.5 million salary cap hit. Carlson completed an eight-year contract with the Washington Capitals that carried an $8 million average annual value.

The Capitals drafted him 27th overall in 2008. He played 17 seasons in Washington, winning the Stanley Cup in 2018, before the team traded him to the Anaheim Ducks last season. Carlson recorded 14 points in 16 regular-season games and six points in 12 playoff games with Anaheim.

The Ducks traded Carlson's negotiating rights to the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday for prospect Kyle Masters and a sixth-round pick. Carlson and the Hurricanes did not reach a contract agreement, sending him into unrestricted free agency on Wednesday. The Lightning needed a right-side defenseman after losing Darren Raddysh, who recorded 70 points in 73 games last season.

Tampa Bay executed a sign-and-trade that sent Raddysh to the Toronto Maple Leafs for an eight-year contract with an $8.5 million cap hit. Carlson has accumulated 785 points in 1,159 career NHL games with a plus-112 rating. Speculation had linked the Lightning to a possible trade for Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski, the prior season's Norris Trophy winner.

Werenski had informed the Blue Jackets he was unlikely to re-sign after his contract expires in 2028. The Blue Jackets explored a trade with the Dallas Stars that Werenski vetoed by exercising his no-movement clause. Werenski and Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell issued statements Wednesday confirming he would remain with Columbus.

The Lightning signed Carlson a few hours later.