After 17 seasons and more than 1,000 games played with the Washington Capitals, Natick native John Carlson has a new home.

Carlson, 36, was recently traded to the Anaheim Ducks.

He is leaving with potential Hall of Fame statistics. He is the Caps’ all-time leading scorer among defensemen with 771 points, including 166 goals and 605 assists, in 1,144 regular season games. 

During his time with the Caps, which ran from 2009 to this year, he was a member of the 2018 Stanley Cup team. He has been described as the Cap’s best ever defenseman. 

His teammates reacted to his departure with sadness for the loss and appreciation for the player and the person, according to washingtoncaps.com.

“Obviously it’s a sad day. It’s probably the toughest day of my career, and I’m talking about personal wise,’’ Captain Alex Ovechkin, who is widely acknowledged as one of the best hockey players ever, was quoted on nhl.com. “It’s sad. We’ve been together since his day one with the Caps. We’ve grown up together as a person and our families. It’s hard. It’s hard and it’s a sad day.”

Ovechkin described Carlson as “obviously the best defenseman in this franchise’s whole history. Obviously, an unbelievable man and a great friend for all of us.’’

Teammate Tom Wilson described Carlson as “a guy that anyone can call him in your family and he’ll be there, he truly is. It’s not always sunshine and rainbows, and he gives people a hard time in here sometimes. But I think everybody in here knows that if you call him at three in the morning, he is a guy that’s lining up to be that guy for every single person. We see that in here, and that’s what hurts. He is a guy that you just can’t replace; I mean, you just don’t.’’

Carlson received a warm welcome when he debuted with his new team in Anaheim.

He was awarded the Gordon Bombay Mighty Ducks jacket as the player of the game during his first ever skate as a Duck.