LA Kings: Here’s what we know about the conditions in Jeff Carter trade
By Ryan Sikes
The LA Kings traded Jeff Carter to the Penguins on Sunday night. Here’s what we know about the conditional draft picks in return.
The LA Kings and Penguins connected on a trade late Sunday evening, sending two-time Stanley Cup champion Jeff Carter to Pittsburgh. Carter, 36, was acquired before the trade deadline in February 2012 and had an immediate impact on the Kings, en route to the organization’s first Stanley Cup title in 2012.
The trade was made official, pending the final results of the trade call last night.
During the night, news broke on what the LA Kings would be receiving in return.
Pittsburgh Penguins
- Jeff Carter
LA Kings
- 2022 conditional third-round pick
- 2023 conditional fourth-round pick
The Kings will also be retaining 50% of Carter’s remaining salary, coming at a $5.3M AAV cap hit this season and next.
The Athletic‘s Pierre LeBrun reported Monday morning that the Kings 2022 pick can be bumped up to a second-round draft pick if the Penguins reach the Stanley Cup finals and Carter plays in at least 50% of the games.
The conditions are similar to the Kyle Clifford and Jack Campbell deal, traded at the deadline last year. If you recall, those conditions included the Maple Leafs would owe the Kings a 2021 second-round pick if the Leafs win their qualifying round, and Campbell gets two or more wins, OR if Clifford re-signed.
Obviously, neither happened, but there is some obvious rooting interest in Pittsburgh’s playoff hopes, with the LA Kings likely missing the postseason for the third consecutive season.
To close, as many noted on Twitter, players being linked to trade rumors are one thing. Once the finality of it sets in, it’s a very sobering moment. Last night, it was difficult for me to put my thoughts into a neat and concise order in the initial Carter news piece.
Now that I’ve had a chance to reflect on it, I will miss Carter’s presence in the lineup, and I am very thankful for his contributions to this team over the last 9 years. The Kings now have just four veterans leftover from their Stanley Cup runs in Doughty, Kopitar, Brown, and Quick.
With the NHL’s trade deadline at 3 pm ET on Monday, it will be interesting to see if the Kings are done making moves. If Alex Iafallo or Andreas Athanasiou aren’t moved before then, all signs would suggest both could return next season and potentially beyond, depending on the contract term.
I’m sure we’ll find out more regarding the conditions of the 2023 fourth-round pick in the coming hours.
The Kings play host to the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday, with puck drop set for 7 pm PT.
[UPDATE]
The 2023 4th round pick can upgrade to a 3rd round pick if Carter plays in at least 50 games during the 2021-22 season.