Young Stars: Jeff Carter

First I’d like to start off by apologizing for the drought of posts. With nothing much happening lately and work starting back up again it’s been hard to find the time. Thanks for bearing with me! Now back to the reason you are reading this…

In the NHL Entry draft of 2003, the Philadelphia Flyers took two of the best players available in that 1st round. Flyers captain Mike Richards was taken in the 24thspot with the Flyers pick, but another center was take a few picks ahead of him that year. The Flyers acquired the 11thpick from the Phoenix Coyotes and drafted the subject of my post for today, Jeff Carter. A native of London, Ontario, Canada, Carter was a big, smooth, well rounded center who was pretty close to ready to play for the club. He spent the 2003-2004 season with the SaultSte. Marie Greyhounds of the OHL. Posting 34 goals and a career high in assist, 40, and points, 74, he was ready to make the transition to the AHL. Only playing 3 regular season games with the Phantoms, Carter was ready and raring to go for the playoffs. He played in 21 games recording 12 goals and 11 assists for 23 points while helping lead the team to a second Calder Cup Championship in 7 years. There was no surprise to me or anyone else for that matter that Carter was appearing ready to make the big jump.

And jump he did. Straight out of training camp, Carter made the cut and had a spot on the Flyersroster. Now many of you probably thought the same I did that he would be a 30-goal 70-point maximum scorer. And his first three seasons really just pushed that notion even more. In those first three seasons he hit a career high of 29 goals and 53 points. But, time would tell us the scoring machine Carter could be. Linked up with Scott Hartnell and the “thank god that burden is gone, I’ll play when I want to” Joffrey Lupul for most of the 2008-2009 campaign, Carter notched career highs in basically every asortable stats. With a still unbelievable to me number of 46 goals, 84 points, 342 shots, 12 game-winning goals, 13 power-play goals, 4 short-handed goals, and a plus23 +/- rating, he really silenced every critic he’s has since elementary school. Along with giving the people who put him down a stiff finger, Carter really grounded his role as the number 2 center behind Richards. This leads me to believe that if Paul Holmgren had a chance to go back and change one acquisition of his GM career, before I say it I’ll say I’m sorry Paul, but he would take back the deal he gave Briere in a second. Just think without him all of those Komisarek and Bouwmeesterto Philly rumors probably would have come true with Briere out of the picture. I know I know, Briere’s experience helps many of the young guys but I say no way to a 3rd line center making well over $6 million a year just for his experience. Sorry, I digress. I’ll try to be the first to tell you right now that I really don’t think Carter will be a perennial 40+ goal scorer. I think he has high 30’s in him for the next 10 years but with the lack of offense the Flyers had last year he shined so well. With Richards finishing better and Gagne having a concussion-less season and Giroux blossoming, I don’t see Carter having the workload he had last season. I think before everything is said and done with Carter’s career, he will be one of the highest scoring career Flyers saying he doesn’t jump ship when his deal ends. I think a one-two punch of Richards and Carter as the top two centermen would look great for the next 10 or so years. Jeff is one of my favorite guys on the team and I hope his success keeps flowing as much as it has for him but at the same time, I hope they don’t take time away from guys like Giroux just because of one 46 goal season. Regardless of what happens, Jeff Carter will always be remembered as one of the Flyers best draft picks and best scorers.