Carter of the Penguins retires from the NHL after 19 seasons

On Wednesday after playing his final game for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Jeff Carter announced his retirement from the NHL. 

In 1,321 games across 19 seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Los Angeles Kings, and Penguins, the 39-year-old forward had 851 points (442 goals, 409 assists), 

“I’m going to be a dad. Being a hockey player you miss a lot, in a way you’re in and out,” on Wednesday Carter said following a 5-4 loss at the New York Islanders. “To live out my dream my family sacrificed a lot for me. I’m going to be a dad and to be home, and then from there figure it out.”

Carter scored his final NHL goal at 10:56 of the third period Wednesday, tying it 4-4 before New York forward Simon Holmstrom scored at 14:27.

On the ice, Carter raised his stick to the crowd as the Penguins tapped theirs, as the Third Star of the game announced. He was greeted by each of the Islanders as his teammates waited at the bench door.

Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said, “It’s superb to be part of that experience when you are around a guy that’s just a frightful person, a great teammate.” “He’s been through a lot with these guys. They mean the world to him. And to have an opportunity to be a small part of that, it’s a pretty cool experience.”

For the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Penguins (38-32-12) did not qualify for a second straight season after being eliminated Tuesday when the second wild card clinched the Washington Capital into the playoffs from the Eastern Conference with a 2-1 win against the Flyers.

Sidney Crosby captain of Pittsburgh said he was appreciative to share Carter’s moment Wednesday.

Crosby said, “Things like that when you can soak it all in, that’s something I think we will all cherish.”

In the 2003 NHL Draft, selected by Philadelphia in the first round (No. 11) with the Kings (2012 and 2014) Carter won the Stanley Cup twice and the gold medal with Canada at the 2014 Sochi Olympics. In 133 NHL playoff games, he had 84 points (47 goals, 37 assists) and played in two NHL All-Star Games (2009, 2017).

On April 12, 2021, Carter had 383 points (194 goals, 189 assists) before being traded to Pittsburgh, behind Crosby playing third-line center and Evgeni Malkin in his first three of four seasons with the Penguins.

This season Carter embraced a fourth-line role, in 72 games finishing with 15 points (11 goals, four assists) mostly at right wing.

“He’s meant a lot,” Crosby said. “In juniors, we played together, with Team Canada together grew up playing, and then with Philadelphia played against him, so [a] bit of a competition there. Things change.

“He’s just had an amazing career. Honestly, he’s the same gentleman that I remember meeting when I was 16. He just has a lot of grace, great guy in the room. He brings it every single night, and he’s had an amazing career.”

Carter is from London, Ontario, and said with his wife Megan, and children Caden and Emersyn he plans to remain in Pittsburgh.

“We’re staying. Here in August, we moved full-time,” Carter said. “We’ve loved it. For our family, it’s been a suitable fit. It’s central to both our extended families. It has worked out well.”