Jeff Carter steps in as Penguins' top center

Western Pennsylvania and Southern California might as well be on different planets, let alone opposite sides of a continent.

One is sunny and idyllic. The other is … well, Western Pennsylvania.

A surplus of cumulus clouds notwithstanding, Penguins forward Jeff Carter’s current environs offer something he couldn’t find in Los Angeles as a member of the Kings for the past handful of seasons.

Success.

Acquired via trade in April, Carter melded into the Penguins lineup almost immediately. In 14 regular-season games, Carter scored 11 points (nine goals, two assists). During the Penguins’ all-too-brief postseason that lasted all of six games, Carter led the team in goals with four while totaling five points.

“It was exciting after the last couple of years in (Los Angeles) kind of going through a rebuild,” Carter said. “It was exciting coming to a good team having a chance to win. The coaching staff did a pretty good job of putting me in positions to succeed. I was lucky enough to have some success.”

As the Penguins prepare for the 2021-22 season, Carter is in a very different place. And not just as it pertains to geography.

He is higher on the depth chart.

With Sidney Crosby (left wrist) and Evgeni Malkin (right knee) hobbled and expected to miss games to open the regular season, the Penguins’ projected No. 1 center is a 36-year-old who hasn’t been deployed in that fashion in roughly a decade by his estimate.

“Probably (Philadelphia), Columbus,” Carter said in reference to two of his former teams, the latter of which he last played for in 2012. “It’s been a while, but it’s exciting. It’s something that I used to do. As you get older and your role evolves, things kind of change. If that’s the case, if that’s how it plays out, I’m looking forward to it.”

Penguins management certainly seems eager to see what Carter can provide in that role.

“He’s a big piece on the ice and a big piece off the ice, as well,” general manager Ron Hextall said. “He supplies leadership and professionalism. You can play him in two different positions and up and down your lineup. He’s obviously one of the guys we’re going to be looking to to help us get off to a good start. But it’s going to have to come from the whole group.”

Carter was part of the group of players the Penguins opted to protect for the expansion draft in July. At the time, it was a curious decision as it was widely assumed the incoming Seattle Kraken would not want to select a player in his late 30s who has one year remaining on his contract.

But given the statuses of Crosby and Malkin, Penguins management did not want to entertain the notion of losing Carter, even if the risk was minimal.

Two months later, Carter opened training camp on a potential first line with All-Star Jake Guentzel on his left wing and free-agent signing Danton Heinen at right wing.

With the benefit of a full training camp (to say nothing of being able to square away personal concerns like finding a house or school for his children), a greater level of acclimation to his surroundings could elevate Carter’s play well beyond the prolific display he offered in the spring.

“For Jeff, now he understands,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “He’s got a way better understanding of how we’re trying to play. He’s got a little bit of a runway here to work with our team and work with some of our players and coaching staff.”

And given that Carter will be entering the 17th season of his NHL career, much of what he offers lies in his experience and guile.

“I can’t say enough about what he brings to this team, both on the ice but off the ice, as well,” Sullivan said. “He’s a great leader.”

Carter will have to lead the Penguins, at least as it pertains to the minutes and duties a top-line center commands, during the early stages of the season. Crosby is expected to miss a handful of games to open the season, and Malkin’s convalescence will require him to sit out at least the first two months of the season.

“I’m not going to replace them,” Carter said. “It’s going to have to be throughout the lineup. I’ll try to do my part to alleviate some of that pressure. But we’re going to need it from everybody. It’s the two best players on the team. So it’s going to be a big task for everybody.”

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