As I'm sure you're all aware of by now, the Kings and the Blue Jackets swapped Jack Johnson and Jeff Carter today. I've heard both opinions on who won the trade and who got robbed, and for what it's worth, both sides have fair arguments. When all is said and done, however, I think it's a pretty fair deal for both sides. Columbus gets rid of Carter, who clearly wasn't working out with the Blue Jackets, and in exchange they get a halfway decent offensive defenseman with a cheaper contract than Carter. On top of that, they're getting LA's first round pick either this year or next year. That's not too bad, I suppose.
On the other hand, LA is getting a proven goal scorer; something they've desperately needed this season. I don't have the exact number off the top of my head, but they've averaged something like 2 goals a game this year, and if you pay attention even a little, you'll know that's true. I live near LA, so I get to watch their games more often than not, and man, it can be painful. Night after night watching Jonathan Quick stand on his head while the guys in front of him struggle to get more than one goal makes you really feel bad for Quick, and the team. Now, I'm definitely not saying that Jeff Carter is going to be LA's savior or anything. Far from it, really. This is just a deal they needed to make, and now they need to hope it turns in their favor.
Now, there can't be good without bad, and that's not an understatement with this situation either. If you happen to live under a rock or somehow managed to miss the controversy this past off-season, Mike Richards and Jeff Carter were both traded from Philadelphia because of alleged locker room issues. They were both often accused of partying too much, and that's easy to believe seeing as they're best friends (not to mention various pictures floating around the internet). Hell, they even still talk several times a week, so it's probably not too much of an understatement to think that the splitting of them affected them more than it should. Regardless of the issues and accusations, it seems that Richards at least has grown past them. He's carried the Kings during stretches this season where it seemed they had no hope.
Carter, on the other hand, as soon as he learned he was traded to Columbus, he basically threw in the towel. I can understand that to an extent. You go from an annual Cup contender to a team that's struggled every year since they've existed...that's gotta be a rough feeling. I get that, I do. At the same time though, you're also a professional athlete essentially guaranteed to make millions of dollars for the next decade, so suck it up and deal with it like a man. You can only imagine how relieved he must be to get out of dodge.
Carter's not the only one happy with the trade, however. Earlier tonight, Richards tweeted his feelings on the subject:
Who knows, though? With Richards and Carter being released from the time-out corner and allowed to play together again, maybe they learned their lesson and LA can get back on track scoring goals and winning games. Time's running out on the season and probably even GM Dean Lombardi's paycheck.
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