John Carlson (born January 10, 1990) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman and alternate captain for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted by the Capitals in the first round, 27th overall, in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft after playing a year in the United States Hockey League (USHL) with the Indiana Ice. Before reaching the NHL, Carlson played junior hockey in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the London Knights and played professionally with the Capitals' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Hershey Bears. He also participated internationally for the United States in the 2010 World Juniors and 2014 Winter Olympics. Carlson won the Stanley Cup as a member of the Capitals in 2018, as the highest scoring defenseman during the playoffs. Playing career Minor and Junior Carlson began his ice hockey career with the New Jersey Rockets Youth Hockey Organization of the Atlantic Youth Hockey League. He lived near the New Jersey Rockets Organization based in Newark, New Jersey, for Tier II and Juniors and Somerset, New Jersey, for Tier I. According to Eliteprospects.com, Carlson scored 50 points in 44 games in his final year with the Rockets, earning him the 2006-07 Atlantic Junior Hockey League (AtJHL) Offensive Defenseman of the Year Award. He attended St. Joseph High School in Metuchen, New Jersey, for three years, but he only played for the high school team during his freshman year, the 2004–05 season. In 21 games with St. Joseph, Carlson registered 12 goals and 19 points. Carlson attended Cathedral High School in Indianapolis for his senior year while he played juniors for the Indiana Ice of the USHL. Carlson played a full season in the USHL with the Ice in 2007–08, scoring 12 goals and 43 points in 59 games, earning him the USHL's second All-Star team and All-Rookie team honors. After a productive rookie season in the USHL, Carlson was drafted in the first round, 27th overall, by the Washington Capitals in the 2008 NHL entry draft. Carlson was originally committed to play college hockey for the University of Massachusetts, but signed to play for the London Knights of the OHL after being drafted by them in the 2nd round of the 2008 OHL draft. During the 2008–09 OHL season, Carlson notched 76 points, including 16 goals, helping the Knights secure the Midwest Division Title. During the playoffs, Carlson scored another 22