Jeff Carter Heading to the City of Angels

Well Rick Nash may be staying put after.

Disgruntled Blue Jackets forward Jeff Carter has been traded to the Los Angeles Kings for Defenseman Jack Johnson and a conditional first round pick in the 2012 and 2013 Draft. 

With Johnson, GM Scott Howson acquires a player that is young, talented, and established in the League, and the first round pick satisfies the draft pick desire that he would've wanted from a potential Nash trade.

Carter had been a overall disappointment for Columbus, recording 15 goals, 10 assists, and 25 points while have a -11 plus/minus rating in only 39 games due to various injuries.  At the onset of his arrival in Columbus Carter was vocal in his lack of a desire to play for the franchise that has been historically underachieving and appeared to be stuck in a state of mediocrity.  Prior to his half a season with the Blue Jackets, Carter was a three-time 30 goal scorer with Philadelphia which prompted them to sign the 27-year-old to an eleven year deal through the 2021-2022 season.  However, following the Conference Semifinal loss last season to the Boston Bruins, the Flyers upper management decided to make significant roster changes, shipping Carter to Columbus and captain Mike Richards to the Kings.

Now in L-A Richards and Carter will be reunited to help an offense that has averaged a league low 2.05 goals per game, but the Kings roster certainly does not lack the talent.  The Kings top six forwards will now include:

Jeff Carter
Mike Richards
Anze Kopitar
Simon Gagne (when healthy)
Dustin Brown
Dustin Penner

Now thats not a bad top two lines if you ask me.  What LA now will need to prove, assuming Carter does improve the struggling offense, is if the defense can play well enough to get them in the playoffs.  Goaltender Jonathan Quick was an all star this season, and now former top-five pick Drew Doughty and veteran Rob Scuderi will be asked to anchor the back line for LA.

But for a quick moment lets take a glimpse at how this trade affects Carter's former teammate Rick Nash.  Howson now will the need the perfect offer, and I mean perfect, to trade his two most talented players within days of eachother.  That's from the upper management's perspective.  Now if I'm Rick Nash, that trade sends me a very specific message: this team (Columbus) is still rebuilding, still unsure of the direction they want to go in.

If I'm Mr. Nash, and I'm approached by Howson with an offer to go to a playoff team, I give him a hug, say thank you, and get the hell out of Columbus.