The Pittsburgh Penguins have acquired striker Jeff Carter from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for conditional elections in the third round of 2022 and the fourth round in 2023, it was announced today by CEO Ron Hextall.
Carter, 36, is 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, a two-time Stanley Cup champion with Los Angeles in 2012 and ’14, has spent the last 10 seasons with Kings and has represented the team as an alternate captain for the past six seasons. This year, Carter scored eight goals, 11 assists and 19 points in 40 games.
Twice NHL All-Star (2009, ’17) recorded 751 career points (390G-361A), including 113 power goals, 18 short goals and 83 winning goals in 1,080 NHL career games with Los Angeles 2012-21), Columbus (2011-12) and Philadelphia (2005-11).
Since making his NHL debut in the 2005-06 season, Carter has managed to score 83 goals and 390 goals for second and eighth (respectively) of all NHL players. The four-time 30-goal scorer had his best season in 2008-09 with the Flyers, when he recorded career highs in goals (46), assists (38) and points (84) in 82 games. Carter led the NHL in the game’s winning goals in the 2008-09 (12) and ’12-13 (8) seasons.
The 6-foot-3, 219-pound striker helped the Kings to the 2012 Stanley Cup Championship with eight goals in the NHL playoffs (tied), including the Stanley Cup goal. During the Kings’ run to the 2014 Stanley Cup, Carter’s 10 goals and 25 points in 26 playoff games ranked second in the league.
In 120 career playoff games between Kings and Flyers, Carter has scored 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 a maximum score of 23 points (12G-11A) in 21 playoff matches.
Born in London, ON, Carter won a gold medal at 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 2004 Junior World Championships (Silver Medal) and ’05 (Gold Medal), as well as the 2006 World Championships.
Carter was originally drafted in the first round (11th overall) of the 2003 NHL Draft by the Philadelphia Flyers. Hextall was the director of staff for the Flyers players when Carter was drafted.
Prior to his professional career, Carter played four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League with Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds from 2001-05. In 236 career junior games, Carter scored 246 points (123G-123A).