Carter’s profession started with the cross-state rival Flyers, who chosen him with the eleventh total decide in 2003 as a part of arguably essentially the most star-studded first spherical in trendy historical past. The now-39-year-old wouldn’t make his NHL debut for one more two years, sticking round with the Soo Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League whereas a labor lockout canceled the 2004-05 marketing campaign. At age 21, he instantly stepped in as a strong complementary scorer, scoring 23 targets and 42 factors in 2005-06 whereas averaging solely 12:04 per recreation.
He was promoted to Philadelphia’s prime six the next season, the place he largely remained for the Flyers and three different golf equipment earlier than being demoted final season. By 2008-09, he’d cemented himself as one of many higher two-way facilities within the league, main a deep Flyers offense in scoring with a career-high 46 targets and 84 factors, averaging practically 21 minutes per recreation.
His level manufacturing trailed off marginally over the subsequent two seasons however nonetheless remained a top-six fixture. Accidents started to take a minor toll, as he was restricted to 12 appearances within the Flyers’ run to the 2010 Stanley Cup Last. Philly inked him to an 11-year, $58M extension early within the 2010-11 marketing campaign, however he would by no means play a recreation for the franchise underneath that deal. Then-Flyers GM Paul Holmgren had a fast case of purchaser’s regret amid his early 2010s roster-retooling, dealing Carter to the Blue Jackets for younger winger Jakub Voráček, a first-round decide that turned captain Sean Couturier, and a third-round decide that turned depth contributor Nick Cousins.
It was a slam-dunk deal for Philly, who bought 604 factors and 727 video games out of Voráček, 795 video games and 498 factors (and counting) out of Couturier, and three seasons of first rate depth scoring out of Cousins. Carter performed lower than a full season in Columbus, as he was flipped to the Kings on the 2012 commerce deadline after simply 15 targets and 39 video games in a Blue Jackets uniform.
His offensive peak might have been in Philadelphia, however he discovered essentially the most success in Los Angeles. He posted 9 factors in 16 video games down the stretch in 2012 earlier than tying for the league lead with eight targets in 20 postseason video games because the eight-seed Kings had some of the dominant Cinderella runs in skilled sports activities, successful the primary Stanley Cup in franchise historical past whereas going 16-4. Splitting duties with former Flyers teammate Mike Richards as among the Kings’ main secondary scorers behind Anže Kopitar, he returned with a vengeance in 2014, erupting for 10 targets and 25 factors in 26 playoff video games as L.A. captured its second championship in three years.
Carter eclipsed the 60-point mark in every of the subsequent three seasons and was on his method to doing so once more in 2017-18 till an October skate minimize precipitated tendon harm in his decrease left leg, requiring surgical procedure and maintaining him out for over 4 months. He was sturdy in restricted motion, posting 22 factors in 27 video games, however was held with no level in 4 playoff video games because the Kings have been rapidly dispatched by the growth Golden Knights within the first spherical.
Sadly, he was by no means the identical after that. He managed 60 factors mixed over the next two seasons (136 video games), posting a -41 score within the course of. After he was restricted to eight targets and 19 factors by means of the primary 40 video games of the COVID-shortened 2021 season, the retooling Kings traded the ultimate season-and-a-half of his aforementioned extension to the Penguins for a pair of mid-round draft picks, retaining half his $5.27M cap hit within the swap.
The transfer labored out nicely within the quick time period for Pittsburgh. Carter had a resurgence in barely elevated minutes down the stretch, recording 11 factors in 14 video games and 4 targets and 6 playoff video games because the Pens have been eradicated within the first spherical by the Islanders. He put up 45 factors the next season, his highest complete in 5 years, however Pittsburgh was once more dispatched within the first spherical, this time by the Rangers.
Given his delicate rebound, Penguins GM Ron Hextall inked Carter to a two-year, $6.25M extension halfway by means of the 2021-22 marketing campaign. Sadly, the unavoidable growing old curve took impact earlier than they’d hoped, knocking his manufacturing right down to 13 targets and 29 factors final season whereas having his ice time slashed to its lowest since his rookie season. This yr marked one other vital slide, posting 11 targets and simply 4 assists in 72 contests. He’s coming off his best-ever yr within the faceoff dot, successful 61.5% of his attracts.
Carter’s last objective got here earlier tonight in a 5-4 loss to the Isles, a power-play tally assisted by Sidney Crosby and Michael Bunting. All instructed, his 1,321 profession video games performed stand alone at 63rd on the all-time record. He tallied 441 targets, 409 assists, and 850 factors with a profession +9 score and captured Selke Trophy votes on 4 events (2009, 2011, 2016, 2017). His estimated profession earnings to this point are $76.5M, per CapFriendly.
With Carter sticking round in Pittsburgh, it wouldn’t be stunning to see him take an off-ice position in GM Kyle Dubas’ entrance workplace.