The final major piece to move out of Los Angeles during the Kings multi-season rebuild was the trading of Jeff Carter to Pittsburgh on April 11, 2021. This followed the previous exodus of players like Jake Muzzin, Alec Martinez, and Tyler Toffoli.
While some may chose to debate which of those players created a bigger hole in the Kings lineup once they left the organization, there is no denying the impact Carter had on the organization immediately upon being acquired in February 2012 from Columbus.
Over 10 years in LA, Carter played in 580 regular season games — roughly half of his 1,123 NHL GP — putting up 383 points, including 194 goals. He formed one of the most dominant lines in Kings history and won two Stanley Cups.
Even now, at 37 years old in Pittsburgh, Carter is on the verge of still giving back to LA.
Re: LA Kings
Remember, if Carter plays 50 games this season, the 2023 4th rd pick LA acquired from PIT in the deal bumps up to the 3rd rd.
With 27 GP already, Carter needs to play in 23 of the Pens 49 remaining games.
Oh, and they're in LA Thursday for Carter's tribute video. https://t.co/dWvmignnub
— John Hoven | The Mayor (@mayorNHL) January 8, 2022
Tonight, Carter makes his return to LA for the first time since being traded. He’s coming off a two-goal performance in Anaheim earlier this week.
As stated before, only four players from Kings Cup run will go to the rafters – 8, 11, 23, 32.
On HOF front, 8 and 11 are locks, 32 will be a very strong candidate too (should get in IMO). https://t.co/kviXA0WMcq
— John Hoven | The Mayor (@mayorNHL) January 8, 2022
Riding the high of their own big win over the New York Rangers on Monday, coach Todd McLellan appears set on only making one change to his lineup tonight — flipping his goalies, putting Jonathan Quick back in net.
LA KINGS PROJECTED LINEUP vs. PITTSBURGH PENGUINS on 1/13
Kempe – Kopitar – Iafallo
Moore – Danault – Arvidsson
Turcotte – Kupari – Brown
Lemieux – Lizotte – Kaliyev
Other options: Anderson-Dolan, Fagemo
IR: Andersson, Athanasiou
Protocol: Frk, Grundstrom
Anderson – Doughty
Maatta – Roy
Bjornfot – Durzi
Other options: Moverare
Quick (starter)
Petersen
On the Pittsburgh side of things:
Penguins lineup in Anaheim on Tuesday
Guentzel – Crosby – Rodrigues
Carter – Malkin – Kapanen
Zohorna – Blueger – Simon
Bjorkqvist – Boyle – Angello
Dumoulin – Letang
Pettersson – Marino
Matheson – Ruhwedel
Jarry
https://twitter.com/mayorNHL/status/1481136958990471168
Carter: "It's the old cliché that it's just another game, but it will be a fun night for me, something I have been looking forward to all year."@JeffCarter_77 shares his excitement about playing against his former team in LA ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/Mlu3R3LsDm
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) January 12, 2022
Looks like @emalkin71geno quickly checked some items off his to-do list:
✅ Return to the lineup
✅ Tally 3 points
✅ Score 74th GWG, tied for 2nd in @Penguins history pic.twitter.com/VuQP6DNzQa— NHLPA (@NHLPA) January 12, 2022
Evgeni Malkin scored to record his 63rd career multi-goal game in his return to the @penguins lineup. Only four active players have more such outings: Alex Ovechkin (154), Sidney Crosby (85), Steven Stamkos (80) and Jeff Carter (64).#NHLStats: https://t.co/XOHQWq9k6D pic.twitter.com/UHgwsSCg8v
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) January 12, 2022
KINGS MILESTONES WITHIN REACH
Anze Kopitar – needs 40 points to pass Dave Taylor for third on the Kings all-time scoring list
Dustin Brown — 7 goals away from passing Bernie Nicholls for fifth place in Kings franchise history
Drew Doughty — 8 games away from playing in his 1,000th NHL regular season game
Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 pm PST tonight and the game will be on Bally Sports West.
RELATED CONTENT:
TRADE ALERT: LA Kings Send Jeff Carter to the Pittsburgh Penguins
Kings Of The Podcast: Ep. 119 – Previewing LA vs NYR and PIT, Plus a Chat with Scott Ferrall
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