NHL veteran Jeff Carter has announced his retirement after 19 seasons
Veteran NHL player Jeff Carter, known for his tenure with the Los Angeles Kings, made a significant announcement following the conclusion of the Pittsburgh Penguins season on Wednesday night that he will be retiring after 19 seasons in the league.
In a heartfelt moment, the New York Islanders stayed on the ice post-game to congratulate Carter on his impressive NHL journey.
"Every member of the Islanders shook hands with Jeff Carter before leaving the ice in what could be his final NHL game 🥺"
Reflecting on his decision to retire, Carter shared his plans for life after hockey and hinted at the possibility of staying in Pittsburgh.
"I'm going to be a dad. You miss a lot being a hockey player - you're in and out in a way... My family sacrificed a lot for me to live out my dream. I'm going to be home and be a dad and then figure it out from there." Carter said.
He added, "Yeah, we're staying. We moved here in August full-time. We've loved it. It's been a great fit for our family. It's central to both our extended families. It has worked out really well."
Addressing reporters in the dressing room, Carter discussed his final game and his time with the Penguins.
"I still remember walking in that first day and it was like I was there for five years. It's an unbelievable group here, high-character guys. They just accepted me right away, my family right away. It really is a family here." He said.
Carter went on to add, when asked about scoring in his final game, "That was really nice. When Sully put me out there, I knew I wasn't leaving the net... Pretty special moment to get one there at the end. Something I'll remember, for sure."
Throughout his career, the Ontario native amassed 851 points in 1,321 regular-season games and secured two Stanley Cup victories with the Kings. He also represented Canada, winning gold at the 2014 Winter Olympics.
With such a remarkable career, the question now is whether Carter will earn a spot in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Previously on HockeyUnplugged
POLL |
AVRIL 18 | 56 ANSWERS NHL veteran Jeff Carter has announced his retirement after 19 seasons Where do you think Jeff Carter had a more successful career? |
Philadelphia Flyers | 15 | 26.8 % |
Columbus Blue Jackets | 3 | 5.4 % |
LA Kings | 27 | 48.2 % |
Pittsburgh Penguins | 11 | 19.6 % |
List of polls |
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