Carlson eyes NHL debut against Canadiens
By: Brian McNally
Examiner Staff Writer
November 20, 2009
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| Caps defenseman John Carlson, the 27th overall pick in 2008, is set to make his NHL debut Friday night at Verizon Center against the Canadiens. (Getty Images) |
Brian Pothier was horrified. Tom Poti was so nervous the details remain hazy. Both men know exactly what rookie defenseman John Carlson will be feeling when he takes the ice on Friday night at Verizon Center in his NHL debut.
Carlson, a first-round draft pick by the Capitals in 2008, was called up from AHL Hershey on Thursday. He will likely play in place of defenseman Shaone Morrisonn, who was knocked unconscious during Tuesday night’s game against the New York Rangers.
Friends and family will make the short drive from New Jersey as Carlson, 19, and the Caps take on the Montreal Canadiens at 7 p.m. He’s young – the first player from Washington’s 2008 draft class to reach the NHL – but Carlson has a confidence that belies his age.
“I don’t know about surprised,” Carlson responded when asked about his promotion from Hershey, where he and defense partner Karl Alzner lead the team with a +14 rating. “Maybe a little bit. But I was just so happy I didn’t know what to think.”
The Caps believe they got a steal when they traded defenseman Steve Eminger and a third-round draft pick to the Philadelphia Flyers on draft day in 2008 for their first-round pick – No. 27 overall. Washington immediately chose Carlson, who had a wonderful season playing junior hockey in Canada last year and ended it by playing key minutes in Hershey during the playoffs as the Bears won the Calder Cup. Carlson had two goals and an assist last spring.
“It’s not going to make his career or break his career,” said Caps coach Bruce Boudreau, attempting to minimize expectations for his teenage defenseman “If he’s horrible it’s going to make no difference. We still think the world of him. And if he’s great we’ll still think he’s a first-year guy that’s played one game.”
Carlson, a right-handed shot, was paired with Poti during practice on Thursday. The 32-year-old Poti didn’t play a minute of minor-league hockey, starting his first pro season with the Edmonton Oilers after two years at Boston University. So he knows the transition Carlson is making, but said he would wait until before the game to give some advice.
“I’ll tell him to go out and play his game and do what he does best,” Poti said. “There’s a reason he’s up here. Play to your strengths and you’ll be fine. He’s a good skater and if you’re a good skater you can play.”
The 6-foot-3, 208-pound Carlson was born in Massachusetts and grew up in New Jersey, playing just one year of Canadian junior hockey with the London Knights – coached by former Caps captain Dale Hunter - before turning pro. Prior to that, Carlson played in the less-prestigious United States Hockey League. While in London he scored 16 goals and had 60 assists in 59 games.
Carlson was promoted over Alzner, 21, who made his pro debut with the Caps last November and played 30 games. Alzner, though, makes $1.675 million to Carlson's $845,833 and the Caps are tight against the NHL salary-cap ceiling. It isn’t known if Washington placed forward Mike Knuble (broken finger) – and the pro-rated portion of his $2.8 million salary - on the long-term injured reserve list. Boudreau did admit finances may have played a role. At the same time, Carlson does have 10 points, first among Bears defensemen and third among all AHL rookies. He’s earned his way to Verizon Center.
“We love both of them. We wish we could get both of them up at some point,” Boudreau said of his organization’s two top prospects. “But this is Carlson’s turn.”
Carlson admitted he was nervous after he got the call to report to Washington. And that he was nervous again when he arrived at Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Arlington. That won’t change when he gets to Verizon Center on Friday night. His fellow defensemen can empathize. They’ve been there themselves.
“Being nervous does nothing for you,” said Pothier, who opened his NHL career in 2000 with the Atlanta Thrashers and was a +3 in his debut. “But it does lend itself to making mistakes. So just go and have some fun and play.”
bmcnally@washingtonexaminer.com
