PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Pens general manager Ron Hextall said he didn’t want to upset how this team was going. He needed to bring in someone who would fit in, hence the move for veteran Jeff Carter.
“Jeff is just sort of the guy that’s going to come into the room and wants to go out and play hockey,” Hextall said Monday afternoon. “I know Jeff won’t affect our chemistry in an adverse way. On the ice, we think it would be a big boost.”
Carter, 36, had a goal and assist in what would be his final game with the Kings. For the season, 8 goals (one on the power play), 11 assists (3 on the power play), a minus 6 and 22 penalty minutes.
“He brings a lot,” Hextall said. “He’s got speed. He’s a playoff proven player. He’s got a lot of versatility. He can play special teams, 5-on-5. He can play center. He can play the wing. He just brings a lot to the table for us.”
Hextall says Carter can still skate and didn’t describe him as a depth guy, rather a player who could make an impact this season. The Pens GM said they couldn’t have made this work without LA picking up half of the salary and called it a good deal for both teams as if the Pens get to the Stanley Cup Final, the third round pick to LA becomes a second rounder.
“We felt like it was enough of an upgrade,” Hextall said of parting with two draft picks. “Our team has done a very good job through a tremendous amount of injuries to key players. We’ve had a lot of guys to step up. We felt like they’ve done a good enough job and essentially the team forced us to do this.”
Where Carter could help in the post-season is playing a straight-line simple game and putting shots on net. Despite being mostly a third liner this year, Carter led the Kings in shots on goal.
“One of Jeff’s top attributes has always been his shot,” Hextall said. “He’s got a very good shot, a very good release. In the playoffs, the fancy plays go by the wayside and you got to put pucks on net. Jeff does a good job at that. He gives us a right shot on the penalty kill and on faceoffs. He will bring a lot to the table. Our guys are excited about the deal.”
So is Carter, as Hextall said he talked to him at 1:30 Monday morning and described his mood as ‘terrific’.
“His exact words to me,” Hextall said. “I’m all in. I can’t wait to get there.”
It typically could take veteran players a few days to get their house in order following a trade, Carter told Hextall he will be in Pittsburgh Monday night with team practices Tuesday and Wednesday.
“We have a player here that’s won two Stanley Cups and he’s hungry to win another,” Hextall said. “His reaction last night was terrific.”
Thursday night he could debut for the Pens against the team that drafted him. The Philadelphia Flyers.