Forward Jeff Carter extended his career with the Penguins, but for how long?

If things had ended for Jeff Carter in Los Angeles, he was more than comfortable with that.

Having helped the Kings win the Stanley Cup in 2012 and 2014 — he scored the Cup-clinching goal in 2012 — Carter carved out an enduring legacy with that franchise.

And there are worse fates in life than retiring into luxury in sunny Southern California.

But those hopes went askew on April 12 when Carter was traded to the other side of the continent and joined the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Kings were going no where quick and jettisoned the fan favorite in order to begin a rebuilding process as they received a handful of draft picks in return. As for his new team, the Penguins wanted someone to boost their already considerable depth at the center position for a potential Stanley Cup run.

“It was a tough day, I’ll be completely honest with you,” Carter said to media in Los Angeles on Wednesday. “I wanted to finish my career here. But I understand (the Kings’ motivations) and what they were trying to do here. The trade has worked out great for me. I feel like it’s given me another kind of boost in my career and probably prolonged it a few more years. It was definitely a tough day though. After spending 10 years here — and the friendships that I have on the other side, staff, players and everybody — it wasn’t easy. But that’s the way it goes sometimes. You get through it and you move on.”

Carter has moved in a pretty good direction ever since the transaction.

In 44 career games with the Penguins, he has 31 points (20 goals, 11 assists). Over his final 44 games with the Kings, Carter had 21 points (nine goals, 12 assists).

Part of that jump in production was due to the adrenaline of going from a non-playoff contender to a Stanley Cup contender.

Another part is the fact the Penguins play a more aggressive scheme than the defensively-oriented Kings did at the time.

“It’s just a real easy group to come into,” Carter said. “A great group of guys. A fun system to play. It’s a real upbeat system. It makes you play on your toes and play fast all the time. Just great players. I’ve been put in positions where it’s made it easy for me to go out and play. I’ve just really enjoyed my time here. It’s given me a little bit of an extra boost here.”

His impact goes beyond the base statistics.

“Off the ice, I think it’s obvious with his presence and the amount of years that he’s been in the league,” defenseman Mike Matheson said. “He’s obviously learned a lot and has that composure and confidence that a veteran like him brings. A guy that’s had so much success in the NHL and the Olympics so he’s been great to have. Everybody knows what he brings on the ice with contributing offensively and being a guy that can also kill penalties. It seems like he can kind of do it all.

“He’s been a huge addition to our team.”

If Carter remains with the team beyond this season is a matter of speculation. The 37-year-old is entering the final year of a massive 11-year contract he signed as a member of the Philadelphia Flyers in 2010. Additionally, the Penguins will have more pressing issues this upcoming offseason as defenseman Kris Letang and center Evgeni Malkin, each franchise icons, are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents.

Add in the general uncertainty with the NHL’s overall finances as well as the impact that can have on the salary cap, and Carter’s future is anyone’s guess. Even Carter’s.

Perhaps the only certainty is Carter is more than capable of still being a viable contributor in the NHL.

“He’s definitely got a lot left in the tank,” Matheson said. “He’s a specimen, it’s crazy. I was training with him a little bit before the summer when he got into town a little bit before training camp. The strength that he has, the endurance, it’s incredible. It’s up to him. If he wants to, I think he has every ability to be able to.”

For his part, Carter professes he hasn’t ruminated much on his future with the Penguins. He just suspects he still has a future as an NHL player.

“I haven’t really thought about that,” Carter said. “I hope to stick around for a few more years.

“Hopefully, we’ve got a few more in there.”

Follow the Penguins all season long.