Mon, Apr 12, 2021 at 1:45am

PITTSBURGH PICKS UP JEFF CARTER

The Pittsburgh Penguins acquired forward Jeff Carter from the Los Angeles Kings for a conditional third-round draft pick in 2022 and a conditional fourth-round draft pick in 2023.

What does it give the Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh has had a solid regular season in 2020-21, despite numerous injuries to key players. Veteran Carter should help them down the stretch, whether he plays third-line center once Evgeni Malkin returns or as a top-six winger. Carter is also signed for one more season and his salary was 50 percent retained by LA, so it makes sense for the Pens.

What does it give the Los Angeles Kings
For the Kings, this deal also makes sense for them because Carter is 36 years old and the club has several young forwards to insert into the lineup in the coming years. So, adding two more future assets down the road seems like a good idea for Los Angeles. While Carter's leadership will be missed, this deal should make everybody involved happy.

Fantasy impact
Carter could get a big boost in terms of fantasy value if he winds up playing wing with Malkin, but next season he is likely to be the team's third-line center. Therefore, Carter's fantasy impact is a question mark moving forward.