The Pittsburgh Penguins acquired Los Angeles Kings forward Jeff Carter in exchange for conditional draft games from 2022 in the third round and in 2023 in 2023, was announced today by Ron Hextall, general manager.
Carter (36) is signed through the 2021-22 season and his contract carries an average annual value of $ 5,272,727. Los Angeles will retain 50% of Carter’s salary.
Carter, a two-time Stanley Cup champion with Los Angeles in 2012 and ’14, has spent the past ten seasons with the Kings and has represented the team as an 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) scored 751 career points (390G-361A), including 113 powerplays, 18 goal kicks and 83 game goals in 1,080 NHL career 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 and 390 total goals are second and eighth (tied) respectively among all NHL players. The four-time 30-goal scorer had his best season in 2008-09 with the Flyers when he scored career highs in goals (46), assists (38) and points (84) in 82 games. Carter led the NHL in game goals during the 2008-09 (12) and ’12 -13 (8) seasons.
The 6-foot 3, 219-pound forward helped the Kings win the 2012 Stanley Cup Championship with eight playoff goals from the NHL (draw), including the Stanley Cup goal. During the Kings’ run to the Stanley Cup in 2014, Carter’s 10 goals and 25 points in 26 playoff games both finished second in the league.
In 120 career playoffs split between 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 and helped the team reach the Calder Cup Championship with a league point of 23 points (12G-11A) in 21 playoff games.
A native of London, ON, Carter won a gold medal at the 2014 Olympics Sidney Crosby and Team Canada, where he had five points (3G-2A) in six games. He also represented Canada in two Junior World Championships in 2004 (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 player personnel at the Flyers when Carter was drafted.
Prior to his professional career, Carter spent four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds from 2001-05. In 236 junior games for junior careers, Carter scored 246 points (123G-123A).