Jeff Carter thought at one point that he'd finish his career as a King.
Toward the end of his time in Los Angeles, Carter started to believe that it was a possibility that he would be moved before his career ended. He wasn't expecting it to be this season, though.
Carter said after Tuesday's off-ice workout in Cranberry that he started hearing his name in trade talks a few weeks ago, but that things had eventually quieted. He found out early Sunday morning the day before the trade deadline that the Penguins were looking to acquire him.
"I'm excited to be here," Carter said. "You look at this team and they're right in the mix and have a good of a shot as anybody to compete this year. I'm excited to get going and get to know everybody here."
Carter was asked what has him the most excited about the trade.
"Having a chance to win," he said. "That's the ultimate goal no matter where you are, every year. Coming here and joining this team and the run they're on right now, the position that we're in, it's exciting. I can't wait to get back to the playoffs and make a run at it. Hopefully we can get the job done."
Carter, as a two-time Stanley Cup champion himself from his time with the Kings, is aware of just what it takes to job done, and that's one way that Mike Sullivan thinks Carter will be able to add to this team.
"He understands what it takes with personal experience, having gone through it," Sullivan said. "I think that means a lot to players. I think he's going to add another level of leadership to our group, we think that's a strength to our team in the leadership that we have. But the fact that he's a Stanley Cup champion himself, he understands what it takes to win, he has that personal experience, I think means a lot to our team. I think he brings a certain level of credibility when he comes to our room."
Carter, at 36, is in the final years of his career. He has one year remaining on his contract after this season, and eliminated any speculation that he might retire early by laughing and saying, "Yes, I will be playing next season," when asked about his plans.
Even as one of the older guys in the league, Carter still brings a speed element to the Penguins' lineup.
"My game is pretty simple," he said. "Straight lines, try to use my speed, and get pucks to the net whenever I can."
"I think he can play the type of game here that we're looking to play in Pittsburgh," Sullivan said. "He can really skate, a great shot. ... We really think he's going to add to this group in such a positive way. We think he's going to make us a better hockey team."
At 6 foot 3 and 219 pounds, Carter brings a size element as well.
"I think it's great that we can add some size to our group," Sullivan said. "I think when you can add to our group and enhance the identity of how we're trying to play, and adding some size to the group as well, it helps us in a number of different ways. It helps us be harder to play against, it should help us to be stronger on pucks. Jeff's physical stature is certainly a welcome addition to our group."
Carter played center earlier in his career but transitioned to wing as of late in Los Angeles, and has played almost exclusively right wing on either the second or third lines for the Kings this season. As of Tuesday afternoon he said that he hasn't had discussions yet as to what his role might be, but would be able to slot in at either center or wing depending on where the Penguins need him,
"I'm totally comfortable with both," he said.
"It's a bonus for our team when we have a number of different guys that bring that versatility to the table," Sullivan said. "It gives us the ability as a coaching staff to move people around from the center position to the wing position and try to look for different combinations that are complementary and help us create the balance that's necessary to win consistently. The fact that Jeff, No. 1 is a right-handed shot, he's a pretty good center-iceman that has a history of being pretty good in the faceoff circle, he can play the wing, the comfort level that he has at both positions is a real bonus for our team."
The Penguins didn't have a full practice on Tuesday, only an off-ice workout with Carter and Evgeni Malkin and Kasperi Kapanen skating on their own before, so we don't have any clues as to where Carter will slot in in the Penguins' lineup. But with Freddy Gaudreau receiving the week-to-week designation though after being injured in Sunday's game, it sounds like Carter will debut as a center.
"I think our first inclination is to try Jeff at the center position," Sullivan said. "Specifically, because we think we need that at this particular point in time given the circumstance of the injuries right now. That's a direct need that we think he can help us right away. My sense is he'll probably start there. But we know we have the versatility to move guys around to different positions based on what we think is best for the group."
Sullivan added that he expects Carter to play on both the power play and penalty kill, roles he also had in Los Angeles.
The Penguins are scheduled to have a full practice on Wednesday, where we'll have a better idea of where Carter will play and who his linemates will be for his first game as a Penguin. He's eligible to play in the Penguins' next game on Thursday at home. If he does make his debut Thursday, it'll come against the team for which he played in the first six years of his career, the Flyers.
He's happy to be on this side of that rivalry now.
"Actually, (Sidney Crosby) and I were talking about that this morning," Carter said with a laugh. "Just the battles that we had when we first came into the league and whatnot. I've always had a lot of respect for the veteran guys here that I played against, Sid, Malkin, (Kris) Letang and those guys. Just happy to be able to suit up with them now. I'm looking forward to it."
