Trade nets Carter from Los Angeles
NEWARK, N.J. — Late on the eve of the NHL’s deadline day, the Penguins added center depth by acquiring Jeff Carter from the Los Angeles Kings, a source confirmed to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
The Kings agreed to retain a portion of Carter’s salary, which runs through the 202122 season and carries a $5.272 million average annual value. In exchange, the Penguins will send Los Angeles two draft picks.
Bob McKenzie reported the initial rumblings of the deal. The formal details of the trade have not yet been announced publicly.
Carter brings a big, 6-foot-3, 220- pound frame and a scorer’s touch as a former 46goal scorer. At 36, he has been cast in a slightly different role now as a 14-year veteran, even though he’s still productive with 8 goals and 11 assists in 40 games. He presumably would slot in as a third-line center for the Penguins if or when they ever become fully healthy. He also would be a candidate to play on the second power play.
Carter checks a lot of boxes, or at least he has at various points in his career. Just look at the votes he’s received for different awards, starting with votes for the Calder Trophy as a rookie. He received votes for the Hart Trophy in his 46-goal season in 2008-09 and again during his 26-goal season with the Kings in 201213.
An offensive force in his younger days, he has evolved into a solid, two-way defenseman who has received votes for the Selke in the past five years. Now, a Penguins team full of aging stars looking for one last Cup have added
another one chasing that same goal on the back stretch of his career.
Blueger returns
After nearly a month on the shelf, Penguins center Teddy Blueger was activated off injured reserve in time for the game Sunday night against the New Jersey Devils.
The addition to the lineup was noteworthy. The subtraction? Maybe even more so.
Mark Jankowski, who had been centering the fourth line, was a healthy scratch for the first time with the Penguins.
The decision to sit Jankowski says as much about his performance as it does Freddy Gaudreau, who remained in his recent role as third-line center after turning heads over recent weeks. Meanwhile, Blueger centered the fourth line, skating between Radim Zohorna and Colton Sceviour.
“If you look at the bottomsix of our group, we have a healthy competition,” coach
Mike Sullivan said. “The healthier we get, we feel like we have some pretty decent depth. It’s going to make for difficult decisions.”
The complexion at center has changed significantly the past month. Initially, when Evgeni Malkin and Blueger went down with injuries, it left the Penguins without two of their top three centers and questions about their depth.
But Gaudreau’s strong performance has done more than just solidify the position. In 12 games, he has tallied 1 goal, 3 assists and a plus-2 rating. He currently leads all forwards with an expected goals-for percentage of 0.5865 during 5-on-5 situations, albeit in a very small sample size.
Clearing waivers
Defenseman Juuso Riikola and Scevoiur cleared waivers Sunday, offering the Penguins some roster flexibility and potentially salary cap savings if needed.
The Penguins now can assign either player to the taxi squad or Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. That continues to be an option until they play 10 games or spend 30 days on the NHL roster, whichever comes first. If either player is moved to the taxi squad, only a small percentage of his salary will count against the NHL salary cap.
“They’re great pros,” Sullivan said. “I think they understand the business. These guys work hard every day. They keep themselves ready.”
While Sceviour appeared in his 32nd game this season Sunday, Riikola has played in just two games. He was yet again a healthy scratch.
While Riikola has good advanced metrics and a cannon of a left-handed shot, he never has been able to capture a regular role. He was presented with a golden opportunity this year to establish himself, when the left side of the blue line was decimated by injury. But he, too, got injured just one game later.
Sullivan called the timing of that injury, “unfortunate.”
By the time Riikola returned, not only were the rest of the defensemen healthy, but the Penguins also had claimed Mark Friedman off of waivers. That essentially makes Riikola the fifth lefty on the depth chart.
Injury updates
Anthony Angello rejoined the Penguins Sunday at the morning skate. He initially began the four-game road trip in Pittsburgh as he was recovering from an upperbody injury.
Malkin skated again in Pittsburgh individually. Kasperi Kapanen and Brandon Tanev have not yet begun the on-ice portion of their rehabilitation.