Carter, Flyers agree to long-term extension
Jeff Carter and the Philadelphia Flyers plan to be together for a very long time.
The star forward signed a long contract extension on Saturday. Terms of the deal weren't announced, but multiple media reports said it is for 11 years and $58 million. The 25-year-old Carter could have become a restricted free agent on July 1.
''He's an integral part of the core of our hockey team,'' Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said. ''This took a little bit of time to get done, but we're happy to have it done. We look forward to seeing him score lots of goals for the next number of years.''
Beginning next season, Carter's salary-cap hit will be $5.27 million, slightly above the $5 million against this season's cap. The contract also includes a limited no-trade clause. This deal was announced five days after fellow forward Claude Giroux agreed to a three-year, $11.25 million contract.
Flyers captain Mike Richards is playing under a 12-year, $69 million contract signed during the 2007-08 season.
Carter has scored 153 goals in 397 NHL games, all with Philadelphia. The Flyers selected him in the first round of the 2003 draft, and Carter made his debut at the start of the 2005-06 season.
''It really says something about him as a player for this organization and what he has done,'' Flyers coach Peter Laviolette said. ''Jeff has put up a lot of points. He's young and talented. He's a big guy that plays center ice for us.''
Carter played in 286 consecutive games before his streak was ended on March 21, 2010, in Atlanta. During his streak, the third longest in Flyers history, Carter played in all 82 games in the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons.
''It's a great deal for him, our organization and our fans. It seems to be a good fit,'' Laviolette said.
The 6-foot-3, 200-pound Carter scored 33 goals last season, in a follow-up to a career-best campaign in which he had 46 goals and 38 assists. He had eight goals and six assists in 16 games this season, heading into Saturday night's home game against the Florida Panthers.
Holmgren said the team began discussing the extension over the summer. It was completed on Friday night.
''Something always came up,'' Holmgren said. ''It was never hostile at any point, it just took time to get done. I think some other issues in the league made us think about different ways of doing this - number of years, custodial stuff.''
