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  6. article_body => "<p>DALLAS\u2014The Caps are \u201creally close\u201d to signing star defenseman John Carlson to a long-term extension, GM Brian MacLellan said Friday night.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re getting closer,\u201d MacLellan said following the first round of the NHL Draft. \u201cHopefully we can get it done here over the next few days. We\u2019re really close.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Earlier in the day, the Caps cleared significant space under the salary cap ceiling by trading Philipp Grubauer and Brooks Orpik to Colorado for a second round draft pick (47th&nbsp;overall).&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>That space will now be used to lock up Carlson, who could become the best defenseman on the open market if he were to reach it.<\/p>\n<p>MacLellan met with Carlson\u2019s agent, Rick Curran, here on Thursday night.<\/p>\n<p>MacLellan did not divulge any figures, but it\u2019s expected that Carlson\u2019s new contract could come in at eight years and $8 million per\u2014or perhaps a bit more.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>He earned $4 million last season.<\/p>\n<p>Carlson had a career year in 2017-18 and was critical during the Caps' run to the Stanley Cup. He led all defensemen in the regular season with 68 points (15 goals, 53 assists). The 28-year-old also skated a career-high 24:47 per game.<\/p>\n<p>MacLellan has long said that re-signing Carlson was the Caps\u2019 top priority this offseason. And now it looks like that could happen within days, assuming the talks do not hit any snags.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re going to do our best to sign John,\u201d MacLellan said. \u201cWe\u2019ve said it all along. We waited until the end of the year. We\u2019ve had discussions. We\u2019re close and hopefully we can close the deal here over the next 24 hours.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\u201cHopefully we can close the deal here over the next 24 hours.\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/ALLCAPS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#ALLCAPS<\/a> GM Brian MacLellan on negotiations with pending UFA John Carlson. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/dr2v2QExWW\">pic.twitter.com\/dr2v2QExWW<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Tarik El-Bashir (@Tarik_ElBashir) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Tarik_ElBashir\/status\/1010377472033124352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 23, 2018<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n<p><em><strong>MORE CAPITALS NEWS:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>The new guy:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/capitals\/capitals-go-whl-again-select-defenseman-alex-alexeyev-first-round-pick\" target=\"_blank\">Caps draft Alex Alexeyev<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Blockbuster:<\/strong>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/capitals\/capitals-deal-philipp-grubauer-and-brooks-orpik-ahead-draft\" target=\"_blank\">Caps trade Grubauer, Orpik<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Moving on:&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/capitals\/now-islanders-coach-barry-trotz-explains-why-he-left-capitals\" target=\"_blank\">Trotz explains why he left the Caps<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Schedule News<\/strong>:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/capitals\/washington-capitals-release-full-2018-19-season-schedule\" target=\"_blank\">Caps' full regular season schedule released<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n"
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Capitals

Capitals

DALLAS—The Caps are “really close” to signing star defenseman John Carlson to a long-term extension, GM Brian MacLellan said Friday night.

“We’re getting closer,” MacLellan said following the first round of the NHL Draft. “Hopefully we can get it done here over the next few days. We’re really close.”

Earlier in the day, the Caps cleared significant space under the salary cap ceiling by trading Philipp Grubauer and Brooks Orpik to Colorado for a second round draft pick (47th overall). 

That space will now be used to lock up Carlson, who could become the best defenseman on the open market if he were to reach it.

MacLellan met with Carlson’s agent, Rick Curran, here on Thursday night.

MacLellan did not divulge any figures, but it’s expected that Carlson’s new contract could come in at eight years and $8 million per—or perhaps a bit more. 

He earned $4 million last season.

Carlson had a career year in 2017-18 and was critical during the Caps' run to the Stanley Cup. He led all defensemen in the regular season with 68 points (15 goals, 53 assists). The 28-year-old also skated a career-high 24:47 per game.

MacLellan has long said that re-signing Carlson was the Caps’ top priority this offseason. And now it looks like that could happen within days, assuming the talks do not hit any snags.

“We’re going to do our best to sign John,” MacLellan said. “We’ve said it all along. We waited until the end of the year. We’ve had discussions. We’re close and hopefully we can close the deal here over the next 24 hours.”

 

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