Pittsburgh Review

After Jeff Carter announced his retirement at the end of last season, he looked forward to focusing on family life.

"You miss a lot being a hockey player - you're in and out in a way," he said. "My family sacrificed a lot for me to live out my dream. I'm going to be home and be a dad and then figure it out from there."

The Carters have been busy since Jeff's final NHL game on April 18 against the New York Islanders. In addition to starring in the team's schedule release video, they've spent time in the pool whenever son Caden and daughter Emersyn have breaks from their activities.

"I think every day is different, right? My daughter's 6, and my son's 7. With where they're at, you never really know what you're going to get, so that kind of keeps you on your toes," Jeff, 39, said. "We're starting to get into some sports and more activities and whatnot. So, it's been nice to be around and see them take on those challenges and figure things out."

Regarding his parenting style, "I'd like to say that I'm a little stern in rules, but they do a good job of following them," smiled Jeff. "There's also times when you just let them do what they want and run wild. I think kids need that. So yeah, we're working on it. But it's been fun."

This marks the first summer in nearly two decades that Jeff hasn't been training for an NHL season. He first entered the league with Philadelphia in 2005 and recorded 442 goals, 409 assists, and 851 points across 1,321 games.

"For the last 19-20 years, I've had a schedule – even in the offseason," Carter said. "So now to wake up and my days are consumed by other people's schedules; it's a little different for me, but I've enjoyed it. We're settling in nicely."

The Carter family is also settling into Pittsburgh full-time after spending previous summers in California. Jeff won two Stanley Cups during his ten seasons with the Kings before joining the Penguins from Los Angeles at the 2021 trade deadline.

"We loved it honestly from the moment we got here… it just felt super easy, laid-back, relaxed," said Jeff. Wife Megan is from central Pennsylvania. "Both our families are on the East Coast as well... But we just really enjoyed the area... It's been really good."

Jeff spent time with former teammates in Pittsburgh before everyone went their separate ways for summer break. They went golfing and attended concerts; when everyone returns, Jeff plans to offer Evgeni Malkin a deal on cutting his grass using his Toro TimeCutter riding lawnmower—a retirement gift he loves.

"I'm gonna call Geno up here soon," Jeff laughed. "Give him a really good price... It takes me an hour... It's just a little getaway for me."

The camaraderie of the locker room is what Carter will miss most once hockey resumes come September.

"Obviously I love playing hockey but I knew it was time for me... The main thing will be just going into the rink... Obviously friendships are still there..."

As for future involvement with hockey or being around arenas again?

"Oh we'll see... I'd love to stay involved in some way... so we'll see."