Hurricanes land Carlson's rights, Ducks land prospect and pick
Carolina secures exclusive talks with the veteran defenseman by trading Kyle Masters and a 2026 draft selection to Anaheim.
The Carolina Hurricanes have acquired the negotiating rights to veteran defenseman John Carlson from the Anaheim Ducks. Carolina sent prospect Kyle Masters and a late-round pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft to Anaheim to pry loose Carlson’s rights. The move gives the Hurricanes a 30-day exclusive window to sign Carlson before he hits unrestricted free agency on July 1.
The Ducks, meanwhile, add a prospect pipeline piece and future asset without surrendering a current NHL roster player. Carlson, 35, provides a right-shot defensive presence and has averaged 22:30 of ice time over his 14 NHL seasons. His power-play production includes 15 points on the man-advantage in 2023–24, ranking among the league’s top defensemen in that category.
