The Pittsburgh Penguins have taken over striker Jeff Carter from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for conditional draw picks in the third round of 2022 and the fourth round in 2023, General Manager Ron Hextall announced today.
Carter, 36, has been signed for the 2021-22 season and his contract has an average annual value of $ 5,272,727. Los Angeles will keep 50% of Carter’s salary.
Carter, two-time Stanley Cup champions at Los Angeles in 2012 and ’14, has spent the past 10 seasons with the Kings and has represented the team as alternate captain for the past six seasons. This year, Carter has scored eight goals, 11 assists and 19 points in 40 games.
The two-time NHL All-Star (2009, ’17) has racked up 751 career points (390G-361A), including 113 power-play goals, 18 shorthanded goals, and 83 game-winning goals in 1,080 NHL games with Los Angeles (2012-21) ), Columbus (2011-12) and Philadelphia (2005-11).
Since his NHL debut during the 2005-06 season, Carter’s 83 goals won and 390 total goals are ranked second and eighth among all NHL players respectively. The four-time goalscorer with 30 goals had his best season in 2008-2009 with the Flyers, recording career highs in goals (46), assists (38) and points (84) in 82 games. Carter led the NHL in game-winning goals during the 2008-09 (12) and ’12 -13 (8) seasons.
The 219-pound, 1.85-meter forward helped the Kings get to the 2012 Stanley Cup Championship with an NHL-high eight playoff goals (tie), including the Stanley Cup clinching goal. During the Kings’ run to the 2014 Stanley Cup, Carter’s 10 goals and 25 points in 26 playoff games both ranked second in the league.
In 120 playoff games across the Kings and Flyers, Carter has collected 39 goals, 35 assists and 74 points.
Carter began his professional career with the Philadelphia Phantoms of the American Hockey League in 2005, helping the team to the Calder Cup Championship with 23 points (12G-11A) in 21 playoff games.
Born in London, ON, Carter won a gold medal in the 2014 Olympics with Sidney Crosby and Team Canada, where he had five points (3G-2A) in six games. He also represented Canada at two World Junior Championships in 2004 (silver medal) and ’05 (gold medal), as well as at the 2006 World Championship.
Carter was originally drafted in the first round (11th overall) of the 2003 NHL Draft by the Philadelphia Flyers. Hextall was the director of the player staff at the Flyers when Carter was called up.
Prior to his professional career, Carter played four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds from 2001-05. In 236 junior career games, Carter scored 246 points (123G-123A).