No other Washington Capitals defenseman is more deserving to be an alternate captain next to Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom than John Carlson.
Carlson was drafted in the first round at 27th overall in 2008 and was the newest face of a defensive renaissance, a homegrown talent.
Carlson played for the London Knights before joining the Hershey Bears in the 2009 run to the Calder Cup.
He also had glory on the international stage as an alternate captain for Team USA during the World Junior Ice Hockey Championship. Carlson won gold in 2010 with an overtime goal in a 6-5 Team USA win over Team Canada.