The Pittsburgh Penguins have acquired Los Angeles Kings striker Jeff Carter in exchange for conditional selections for the third round of 2022 and the fourth round of 2023, CEO Ron Hextall announced today.
Carter, 36, is signed during the 2021-22 season and his contract has an average annual value of $ 5,272,727. Los Angeles will retain 50% of Carter’s salary.
Carter, two-time Stanley Cup champion with Los Angeles in 2012 and ’14, has spent the last 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 NHL All-Star double (2009, ’17) has recorded 751 career points (390G-361A), including 113 strength game goals, 18 short goals and 83 game-winning 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 goals in total have been ranked 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 recorded professional 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 6-foot 3 and 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 race in 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 split between the Kings and Flyers, Carter has amassed 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 league points (12G-11A) in 21 playoff games.
A native of London, ON, Carter won a gold medal at the 2014 Olympics with Sidney Crosby and Team Canada, where he scored five points (3G-2A) in six games. He has also represented Canada in two Junior World Championships in 2004 (Silver Medal) and 2005 (Gold Medal), as well as the 2006 World Championships.
Carter was originally drafted in the first round (eleventh overall) of the 2003 NHL draft by the Philadelphia Flyers. Hextall was the Flyers players’ personnel director when Carter was drafted.
Prior to his career, Carter played four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League with Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds from 2001-05. In 236 junior race games, Carter recorded 246 points (123G-123A).