The Carolina Hurricanes added a veteran presence to the middle of their ice as they traded for Ryan Carter from the Anaheim Ducks this afternoon. Carter has just 3 points so far this season, (1G 2A), but he's won 50.3% of his faceoffs while averaging about 10 minutes a game for the Ducks. Carter's cap hit is $625,000 and he is a UFA at the end of the season.
Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford had this quote:
"Ryan is an experienced player that can give us more balance down the middle and strengthen our penalty kill," said Rutherford.
The Canes need improvement on the penalty kill and in the faceoff circle as they are currently 27th and 30th in the league in those categories, respectively.
Carolina sent two prospects back to Anaheim, Matt Kennedy and Stefan Chaput. Both players were currently on the Charlotte Checkers' roster and had minimum production so far this season.
Carter has pretty good size at 6'2 and will beef up the fourth line with Troy Bodie. The trade probably means that Jon Matsumoto's days are numbered in Raleigh.
The Hurricanes' presser is after the jump:
RALEIGH, NC – Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has acquired center Ryan Carter from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for forwards Stefan Chaput (sha-POOH) and Matt Kennedy.
"Ryan is an experienced player that can give us more balance down the middle and strengthen our penalty kill," said Rutherford.
Carter, 27, has totaled three points (1g, 2a) and 22 penalty minutes in 18 games this season for the Ducks. The White Bear Lake, MN, native is averaging 10:44 per game in ice time and has won 50.3 percent of his face-offs. Originally signed by the Ducks as a free agent on July 12, 2006, Carter (6’2", 200 lbs.) has totaled 12 goals, 17 assists (29 points) and 141 penalty minutes in 138 NHL games, all with Anaheim. He has played in 20 career Stanley Cup playoff games, earning five points (2g, 3a), and was a member of the Ducks’ 2007 Stanley Cup championship team.
Carter played college hockey at Minnesota State-Mankato (WCHA), totaling 34 goals and 24 assists (58 points) in 76 career games. He has played 89 career American Hockey League (AHL) games with Portland, earning 41 points (19g, 22a). Carter’s career statistics are below.
Chaput and Kennedy were each playing with Charlotte (AHL) this season. Chaput had three assists in 20 games played and Kennedy has notched one assist in eight games.