Penguins’ Jeff Carter announces retirement following 19-year career
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jeff Carter has announced his retirement following an illustrious 19-year career.
Carter rounds out the 2023-24 regular season with 11 goals and 15 points in 72 games.
“I’m going to be a dad,” the veteran forward told media in a post-game interview. “You miss a lot being a hockey player – you’re in and out in a way… My family sacrificed a lot for me to live out my dream. I’m going to be home and be a dad and then figure it out from there.”
A long and illustrious @NHL career for Jeff Carter 👏
We've been privileged to be a part of it. Congratulations on your well-deserved retirement, @JeffCarter_77. pic.twitter.com/AKghBIw5rO
The 39-year-old was oringally selected No. 11 overall in the 2003 NHL Draft by the Philadelphia Flyers and spent the first six years of his career in Philly before going to Columbus during the 2011-12 season. His tenure with the Blue Jackets lasted just 39 games before he was dealt to the Los Angeles Kings.
Carter made an immediate impact on the Kings’ roster and led them to a Stanley Cup that year, he tallied 13 points in 20 Stanley Cup Playoff contests and scored the Stanley Cup-clinching goal. Carter would once again lead the Kings to capture Lord Stanley’s silver chalice in 2013-14 and was named to the Big Double Club which is made up of players who won an Olympic gold medal and a Stanley Cup in the same year.
Throughout his career, the London, Ontario product has amassed 442 goals and 409 assists for 851 points in 1,320 games over 19 years with the Flyers, Blue Jackets, Kings and Penguins. He eclipsed the 30-goal marker four times in his career. Carter captured two Stanley Cups, an Olympic Gold Medal and was named to the NHL All-Star Game twice. Carter ranks 63rd on the NHL all-time record list for games played.
Carter spent four years in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Soo Greyhounds and registered 123 goals and 123 assists for 246 points in 236 games. During the 2004-05 lockout season, he was named to the CHL First All-Star Team and a CHL Sportsman of the Year, Carter won the OHL Most Sportsmanlike Player Award. That same year, he captured an AHL Calder Cup with the Philadelphia Phantoms and led the AHL with 12 goals and 23 points in 21 AHL Playoff Contests.