COLUMBUS, Ohio — Jeff Carter was one of the Penguins’ best players from the moment he arrived in Pittsburgh at the NHL trade deadline. He scored 13 goals in 20 games, including the postseason. In the six-game playoff series loss to the Islanders, as younger teammates were being muscled out of high-danger scoring areas, the 36-year-old Carter went where he pleased.
The 6-foot-3, 219-pounder was a constant threat, tallying four times, against an opponent renowned for taking away time and space. So if the Penguins truly remain in “win now” mode, they made the right choice to include him among the seven forwards they protected in the Kraken expansion draft.
Putting Carter on that list meant exposing popular and highly effective shift-disturber Brandon Tanev. And potentially losing the tenacious and speedy winger would be a blow. Just not as big as losing Carter, who’s a perfect fit and a nice offensive insurance policy if Evgeni Malkin misses a significant chunk of the regular season recovering from offseason knee surgery.
We all need to wait to see how the offseason plays out and what other moves general manager Ron Hextall makes. That includes reserving a hard judgement on the Jared McCann trade.
Some believe the Penguins should have exposed Carter -- he is owed $2 million for the final year on his deal -- and bet the Kraken wouldn’t have selected him from Pittsburgh’s pool of available players.
Carter could have let it be known he would have retired rather than play his final year on an expansion team. Going to a franchise located in a state without income tax might be appealing. Playing closer to the family’s home in Los Angeles might also be desirable.
From the Kraken’s perspective, adding a two-time Stanley Cup winner who plays big in big games certainly is enticing. So is the thought of potentially moving Carter at next year’s trade deadline for future assets if they fall out of the playoff race.
There’s still a chance the Kraken decide to select Zach Aston-Reese, who’s younger than Tanev and probably has more offensive upside. Remember this, too: Tanev’s pugnacious game sticks out with the Penguins because no one else in the lineup plays that way. Would he be as noticeable with the Islanders, Capitals, Bruins, Blues or Golden Knights? Still a good player, but you get my point, right? There are other Brandon Tanevs out there. And, for that matter, there are others like Teddy Blueger, who the Penguins opted to protect after signing him to an extension.
Tanev would be a big loss if he’s Seattle bound, but not as big as Carter. And, if it all goes wrong for the Penguins in the upcoming regular season, who would fetch more at the trade deadline? Pretty sure Cup contenders would be lining up for what Carter delivered against the Islanders.
YOUR TURN: Were the Penguins right in protecting Carter?