Winning Matters: The Pens Can’t Afford Jeff Carter’s Farewell Tour

Before we dive in, I want to make one thing crystal clear: I’m not here to throw shade at anyone personally. This is all about the topic. Jeff Carter has had a great career, no question. But the idea that his past success should give him special treatment now? That’s where I’ve got to put my foot down.

For those wondering why Carter was playing against the Kings, it’s simple: the Penguins needed to make the numbers work under the salary cap, which Taylor Haase from DK Pittsburgh Sports has laid out. Did Sullivan want him on the ice? Perhaps. But let’s not mix up the need to balance the books with giving someone a victory lap.

This is in response to those who say Carter “deserves a farewell tour.”

Winning Matters More Than a Farewell Tour

Obviously, I am speaking from the fans’ perspective, but the emphasis on winning extends beyond just being a supporter. At the end of the day, winning is what counts in competitive sports, with player safety being the only thing that takes higher priority. It’s just common sense. However, some seem to get lost in the personal sagas rather than the actual results.

On that note, Jeff Carter’s performance has fallen flat for the Penguins in the 2023-24 season. The situation isn’t complex: if you’re not performing, you shouldn’t be playing. Especially when you’ve got someone like Vinnie Hinostroza, who’s made a bigger impact in one game than Carter has 12 games into the season.

It might not be the fairy tale ending everyone’s looking for, but let’s face it: winning outranks any farewell tour. This is particularly true for a player whose contributions in a Penguins jersey don’t quite stack up to his glory days elsewhere. We can appreciate what Jeff Carter has done in the past without pretending he’s contributing now.

It’s Vinnie Hinostroza who deserves that 4th line spot. Once the cap situation is sorted, this needs to become reality. And if, for some strange reason, it doesn’t, and Carter is kept on for a sentimental send-off, then I’ve got a bone to pick with Mike Sullivan.

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The Penguins Have No Room for Error.. or Send-offs

Here’s the stark truth about where the Penguins stand: they’re riding the high of a three-game winning streak against the Ducks, Sharks, and Kings. And in those victories, Jeff Carter was essentially a non-factor, contributing little more than what could be offered as moral support—a role just as easily filled from the sidelines or inside the locker room. That may sound tough, but it’s the reality.

With momentum on their side and a faceoff with the Buffalo Sabres on the horizon, the Penguins find themselves in a precarious 5th place in the Metropolitan Division. The race to the playoffs is fierce, and there’s no margin for error. The ice belongs to the best players, no exceptions. So no, there’s no room for a Jeff Carter send-off, and frankly, it’s not merited if it risks the outcomes of games.

The final years of the Big Three’s careers should not be overshadowed by a farewell to Jeff Carter.