Veteran Forward Not Leaving Penguins Lineup
Don't expect Jeff Carter to be taken out of the Pittsburgh Penguins just yet.
It’s early in the season, but don’t expect Jeff Carter to be taken out of the Pittsburgh Penguins lineup anytime soon.
Through all of last season, Carter became the whipping boy for a number of Penguins’ fans and some of the lashings were deserved.
Nearing the end of his career, Carter is clearly a step slower, but head coach Mike Sullivan has found a role for the veteran forward.
Carter started last season as the third line center but couldn’t maintain the position; he’s started the 2023-24 season on the fourth line as a winger.
The Penguins entered the season as the oldest team in the NHL and Carter played a role in that as one of the five oldest players in the league.
You’d think with the amount of lineup battles the Penguins entered training camp with, maybe Carter would lose his role, but he ended up being one of the 12 defensemen to start the season.
With Carter in the lineup, Sullivan has found a use for him as a winger who can step in and take face offs on occasions.
Playing alongside Noel Acciari and Matt Nieto, Sullivan thinks the fourth line is creating an identity.
“I think all three of those guys bring something different to the table,” Sullivan said. “We can rely on Noel and Carts in the face off circle.”
Carter may not be able to provide the same scoring touch he could in his prime, but he hasn’t been too bad in his fourth line role to start this season.
On a few occasions already, the Penguins fourth line has been hemmed in their own zone, but they are yet to be scored against.
As the fourth line center, Acciari is rocking at 57% in draws, as well.
Sullivan likes his defensive lines, and if Carter can at least maintain a level of pace as a depth option, he won’t be leaving the lineup any time in the near future.
If Carter does begin to slip, however, Sullivan has to be quick in getting one of the many forward options available to them into the lineup.
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