IRVINE, Calif. -- Jeff Carter has done a lot in his 19 NHL seasons.
The 38-year-old forward has played in 1,258 games for four teams, amassing 431 goals and 405 assists. He's a two-time NHL All Star, and a two-time Stanley Cup Champion.
There was one thing Carter hadn't done in his long NHL career until the Penguins' game Saturday in San Jose -- sit as a healthy scratch.
Carter was the odd man out at forward in the Penguins' 10-2 win over the Sharks on Saturday. After his line with Matt Nieto and Noel Acciari went scoreless in their first nine games and the cap space finally opened up to recall a 13th forward, Mike Sullivan made the decision to sit Carter and play Vinnie Hinostroza in his place. After both Hinostroza and Nieto found the scoresheet in the blowout win over the Sharks, it's not looking like Carter will get back into the lineup just yet. He was again the extra forward in line rushes during the Penguins' practice in Irvine, Calif. on Monday, and appears likely to be a healthy scratch again for the Penguins' game against the Ducks on Tuesday in Anaheim, Calif.
When it was clear on Saturday morning that Carter would sit that night, Sullivan was asked how Carter was handling the decision and said that he was handling it like a "great pro," lauding the way he carries himself, the respect he's earned from his teammates, and his overall professionalism.
Carter, who admitted after Monday's practice that it's a "definitely different feeling" for him, is handling the switch surprisingly well.
"I understand it," he said. "I'm part of the team, and whatever Sully decides to do with the lineups, we're all on board."
I asked Carter if he was still surprised at all when the decision was made.
"I mean, I want to be out there," he said. "I want to play. But I understand my situation. So I come in with a smile on my face and work hard."
That's been easy to see since that morning skate on Saturday when it was clear Carter wouldn't play that night. He was one of the last players on the ice for the optional morning skate. He stayed out much longer on the ice for Monday's practice than he usually does. That smile on his face was evident during practice, and even afterward when talking about the scratch with reporters. There wasn't a hint of frustration from him, not in the slightest.
Something else that was a sign of Carter's professionalism and positive attitude came after Saturday's game. It was a blowout win and the fourth line scored twice -- no coach would change the personnel after that. Carter had to have known then that he'd be sitting out at least another game. Usually healthy scratches will stop by the room after a game, but won't hang around too long. They're usually gone by the time the room gets opened to the media. Carter stayed in there a long time, looking happier than I've ever seen him -- making his way around the room, hyping up his teammates and chatting with them about the game.
"You have to," Carter said of managing to keep that positive attitude despite the circumstances. "I'm not going to come in and mope around and be an old, grumpy guy. I'm going to come in and have fun, try to keep it light in the room and try to get the boys going."
Carter's teammates appreciate that from him.
"He's an unbelievable teammate," Sidney Crosby said Monday of Carter. "Obviously, he's had an amazing career. It's not easy, he wants to play. He's handled it well, he's been like that for a long, long time."
Sullivan has immense respect for what Carter has done in his career, even going as far as saying that he's "knocking on the door to the Hall of Fame." It's never an easy conversation with a player to tell him that he's not playing, but Sullivan said that the conversation he had with Carter about the scratch was particularly difficult to have, given all that he's accomplished and how much respect the coaching staff and players have for him as a person.
But Carter gets it.
"He's handled it unbelievably well," Sullivan said. "He's a guy that in that particular stage he's at in his career, he has so much respect from the room, his teammates, his coaching staff. He has a wealth of experience in all different facets of the game. He plays an important leadership role on our team. He's really good with the younger players on our team, and I think he's valuing that role in being a mentor. There's going to be games when he's in the lineup, and there might be games when he's not. But he's a very important player for us. I don't think that diminishes the importance that he has to this team."
Carter's acceptance of his situation shouldn't be mistaken for apathy. He wants to be better, and he wants to play. He just knows that being "grumpy," as he put it, wouldn't benefit himself or the team. He's going to keep working to get back into the lineup and find success again whenever that opportunity does come. He saw the way the fourth line played on Saturday, and what made them successful. When he does get back into the lineup, he's looking to play that same way.
"I think defensively, stick with what we're doing," he said. "Obviously, (Acciari's) line there had a really good game offensively. They were good on the forecheck. If I get back in, just try and feed off them. Hopefully, they can get on a roll here and keep going."
