Kings Land Carter

			2011/2012 Stats				2012	July 1st Details
To Los Angeles	Pos	Age	GP	G	A	P	Cap Hit	Years	Cap Hit
Jeff Carter	F	27	39	15	10	25	$5.3m	6	$5.3m
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To Columbus	Pos	Age	GP	G	A	P	Cap Hit	Years	Cap Hit
Jack Johnson	D	25	61	8	16	24	$4.4m	6	$4.4m
Conditional 1st Round Draft Pick

The Columbus Blue Jackets pulled the trigger on one of their biggest pieces, thought to be available for around the trade deadline and it was Jeff Carter that was dealt to the Los Angeles Kings for defenseman Jack Johnson and a conditional 1st round pick, which would either be a 2012 or 2013 pick, depending on some circumstances.

I think we all know about the drama that surrounded Carter and his trade to the Blue Jackets in the off-season, how much of a problem it was for him and how much he didn't want to be there.  It was understandable, it was a shocking trade after signing a long-term deal with the Flyers and then getting dealt to a team that wasn't very good from the get-go.  With that being said, a lot of injury problems in between, Carter didn't have a great 2012 season to this point, but his talent level should be what gives the Kings a little bit more spunk going forward, especially with Carter and Mike Richards reuniting on the West Coast.  The Kings gain another shooting centre, someone with size and will go to the net, making them much more of an offensive threat going forward.

The Blue Jackets do really well on the return in this deal.  Johnson has been touted as a franchise defenseman, but has failed in his opportunities to shine in the position, although, in Los Angeles, he was sitting behind Drew Doughty for the title, so it wasn't all roses for him there.  In Columbus, he has the chance to be a number one defenseman, a franchise guy, in a battle with James Wisniewski, but I think has the leg up on franchise capabilities.  With the acquisition of Johnson, the Jackets start building from the backend a little sooner, with some real promise.

The 1st round pick will be a 2013 pick, if the Kings do not make the playoffs this year or the Jackets will have the choice of it being a 2012 pick or a 2013 pick, if the Kings make the playoffs.  Very positive for them.

The Jackets get to save a little bit of cap space with the deal in place and going forward, the Kings only take on a marginal increase for the talent level that they are getting in this deal.  It almost feels like a wash, which leaves both teams clean of any real cap controversy.  In years to come, the Jackets again, have a bit more space, the Kings can still manage with the extra space taken on.

In the draft pool, this has the biggest impact around the money from Niesa S.'s team, who has Johnson this season.  Niesa needs a bit more help gettin ginto the money from 8th place in the standings and unless Johnson has some really great chemistry with someone or the power play in Columbus, this could be a bit of a loss for her team in this deal.

Munden G. has Carter in the pool this year and his team is in 19th at the time of this deal... no impact there at all.

I don't think the Kings overpaid for Jeff Carter, as I knew that Carter would be expensive to any team that went looking for him, despite what he has meant to that club and what he had done for the club this season.  This deal means so much more to what Carter can do for the Kings as a number one or a number two centre (more likely two) then anything else.  The Jackets get a franchise-ish defenseman and a building block pick in return, so it isn't like they are being left out in the cold.