Penguins Update: The Jeff Carter Conundrum

By all accounts, Penguins GM Kyle Dubas has had a productive and impactful summer. Since taking charge of the black-and-gold’s fortunes on June 1, he acquired veteran scorer Reilly Smith in a savvy trade with Vegas, executed the Erik Karlsson blockbuster while shedding some onerous contracts and signed a host of free agents to compete for bottom-six slots. All this while fleshing out the front office.

There was only one Ron Hextall mistake he wasn’t able to erase. Unfortunately, it represents his predecessor’s biggest blunder. The extension given to Jeff Carter that carries through the coming season.

The gift that keeps on giving.

Indeed, barring a miracle move, it appears Carter will hold down a bottom-six slot by default, most likely right wing on the fourth line in deference to his aging wheels. In the process, occupying a spot that on merit might go to a younger (and perhaps more deserving) player such as Vinnie Hinostroza, Rem Pitlick or Valtteri Puustinen. Potentially hamstringing the fourth line the way he did the third line in 2022-23.

As a refresher, last season big Jeff was on the ice for 24 goals for and 41 against 5v5. Over the past two seasons, 62 for and 90 against. Suffice to say, we bleed goals when he’s on the ice.

So just send him to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton or park him in the press box?

It isn’t that simple. As I understand it, he’d have to approve a demotion to the Baby Pens. We’d still have to pay him his $3.125 million, which would still count against the cap. Unless Dubas pulls another rabbit out of his hat and finds a way to dump $$$, we wouldn’t be able to afford an additional player. Ditto if Jeff was consigned to eating press box nachos. Given our collective age up front, going with only 11 forwards is not an option.

Buy Jeff out? No can do. He’s on a 35+ contract.

The only workaround I can see? Placing Carter on long-term injured reserve (LTIR), which would allow us to circumvent the cap to an extent. However, here’s where things get murky. Does the NHL (and/or NHLPA) have any sort of medical review system that prevents teams from parking unwanted players willy-nilly on LTIR?

I don’t know.

The Maple Leafs have placed former Pens goalie Matt Murray on LTIR for the upcoming season, but he has a well-documented history of injuries. For better (or worse), Carter’s been healthy as a horse, missing only nine games combined over the past two seasons.

As for hopes that the big guy bounces back to a semblance of his former productive self? He did seem to improve down the stretch last spring when a slow-to-react Mike Sullivan finally pulled him off the third line and gave him a more sheltered role.

Dampening those hopes are early reports published on Pittsburgh Hockey Now that the 38-year-old has looked s-l-o-w during informal workouts. As the old adage goes, Father Time remains undefeated. Sadly, and for lack of a softer way to express it, it seems that Jeff has reached the end of the line…the twilight of an otherwise terrific career.

To sum up, a chain (or team) is only as strong as its weakest link. Barring a legitimate injury, the Pens are going to need to find a way to maximize what Carter does best (faceoffs, scoring the occasional goal) while covering for his weaknesses (struggles to get up and down the ice, poor defensive play).

For the sake of both team and player, let’s hope Sullivan and his staff figure something out.

In the Booth

Recently removed from his TV play-by-play duties, Steve Mears will serve as the play-by-play announcer for the Penguins Radio Network this season. He’ll team with the ‘Ol Two-Niner, color analyst Phil Bourque, who’ll be returning for a 21^st season in the booth.

Although nothing’s official, Josh Getzoff is a good bet to slide over from radio to do TV play-by-play on the newly minted Sportsnet Pittsburgh.