Having a severed ear is one thing, but to have a broken skull and an artery severed easily makes this one of the most gruesome injuries in NHL history. The return of Carlson would be a massive addition to the Capitals' lineup as they continue their push for a wild card playoff spot. It would take some of the pressure off of former Leaf Rasmus Sandin and would also provide a veteran presence for him to play beside as well as some defensive reliability.
Carlson has been a cog for the Caps on the blueline since being drafted in 2008 and was an integral part of their cup run a few years ago. He is signed for another 3 years after this year with a cap hit of $8M per season.