Ryan Carter

Playing career

Carter began his junior career with the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL from 2001 to 2004, then played for Minnesota State University, Mankato from 2004 to 2006. In 2006, he signed a professional contract with the Anaheim Ducks and was assigned to their AHL affiliate, the Portland Pirates, where he recorded 16 goals and 20 assists for 36 points in 76 games. He was called up to the Ducks for the 2007 playoff run, appearing in four games, and his name was engraved on the Stanley Cup after Anaheim defeated the Ottawa Senators in the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals. On February 8, 2008, during the 2007–08 NHL season, Carter scored his first and second NHL goals against Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils. Later that season, he suffered a bizarre injury when his right arm went through a photographer's hole on the glass, requiring surgery on his right wrist that sidelined him for six weeks. On April 29, 2008, he re-signed a three-year, $2 million contract with the Ducks. During the 2008–09 season, Carter switched to jersey number 20, becoming the first forward to wear that number in Anaheim since Steve Rucchin (Russian defenseman Maxim Kondratiev had worn number 20 for four games the previous season). He played 48 regular-season games, often as a healthy scratch, finishing with nine points, and scored his first NHL playoff point with a goal in a first-round game against the Sharks on April 25, 2009. On November 23, 2010, Carter was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes for minor league forwards Matt Kennedy and Stefan Chaput; in 32 games with the Hurricanes, he recorded 3 assists. On February 24, 2011, he was traded to the Florida Panthers along with a fifth-round pick in the 2011 NHL entry draft for Cory Stillman, and on July 9, 2011, he signed a one-year, two-way contract with Florida. During the 2011–12 season, on October 26, 2011, Carter was claimed off waivers by the New Jersey Devils. On March 19, 2012, a brawl between the Rangers and Devils resulted in Carter's nose being broken by Stu Bickel. He went on to score five goals and two assists during the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs as the Devils ultimately lost in the Stanley Cup Finals. On April 8, 2014, at the conclusion of the 2013–14 season, Carter was awarded the New Jersey Devils Player's Player Award at their annual team awards ceremony.