Could the Pittsburgh Penguins see one more season out of the oldest player on their roster?

PITTSBURGH – With 17 games remaining in the 2023-24 campaign and the playoffs likely well out of reach, it’s almost time to start looking forward to the offseason. Kyle Dubas will embark on his second summer with the Penguins and could be setting up for another offseason of massive change.

While change is likely, much of it won’t come from seeing players walk to free agency. Heading into this offseason, the Penguins only have two players on the active roster slated to become unrestricted free agents. Goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic and veteran forward Jeff Carter are the only two names, and they are in very different spots in their careers.

Nedeljkovic is looking for a new starting role in the NHL and will likely leave Pittsburgh once the season wraps. On the other hand, Carter may be in his final days of playing.

Carter is 39 years old, and his skills are clearly deteriorating with age. With only 10 points (8G-2A) in 58 games this year, Carter might be looking forward to a happy retirement.

Dubas, however, isn’t so sure Carter is calling it quits. On the most recent GM Show with Josh Getzoff, Dubas says there may still be a future for Carter in Pittsburgh.

“We don't have many expiring players remaining,” Dubas said. “We've got Jeff, who I think that's a ‘we'll see where he is at.’”

Before the start of the season, Carter wasn’t looking that far ahead and didn’t openly say this would be his final season. Many believe the writing is on the wall for Carter, but Dubas is leaving the door open for the veteran.

“He's not scoring like he was when he was in his early 20s and into his early 30s,” Dubas said. “But penalty-killing, competitiveness, and what he's brought to the locker room has been tremendous for us.”

No matter what the future holds for Carter, he is in the final year of a contract that earns him $3.125 million against the salary cap. If he does come back for another season, it will most certainly be on a cheaper deal than that.

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