There are many, including me, that would say the 2005 World Junior Championships were the most talent heavy junior championships of all time.
For Canada, captain Mike Richards led players named, Crosby, Getzlaf, Bergeron, Perry, Shea Weber, Phaneuf, Seabrook, Coburn, Barker and more
The Russians included: Ovechkin, Malkin, Radulov
The Americans had Montoya, Schneider, Kessel, Stafford, Shremp, O'Sullivan, and Ryan Suter (who was unreal)
In the end, when the First Line All-Star team was decided upon, it included: goalie, Marek Schwarz (Cze), defenders: Phaneuf and Suter, and forwards, Patrice Bergeron, Ovechkin and Canada's leading goal scorer for the Tourney.......(you guessed it) Jeff Carter
That Jeff Carter has it in him to dominate is an understatement.
I have watched Carter play a ton of hockey over the last three years, and I have to say that at the NHL level I have seen two very different Jeff Carters.
I call them the The "Mats Sundin" version and the "Joe Thornton" version.
The "Thornton Version" plays a perimeter game and tries to be a playmaker. He attempts to make plays with his linemates and is less aggressive driving toward the net. He takes 1 or 2 shots a game and can be effective but isn't a superstar. Joe Thornton plays this kind of a game at a Superstar level, but few other big guys have been able to.
The "Sundin Version" of Jeff Carter takes the puck and challenges his linemates to keep up. He shoots from everywhere five or six times a game. He creates havoc going to the net and has amazing levels of concentration and touch even with guys hanging onto him. His linemates are wise to just go to the net as well, because quite simply put, the Sundin version creates all sorts of space, loose pucks, and rebound opportunities.
That is the Jeff Carter that we have seen as of late.
I bet if you took a ton of time you would find that these two versions of Jeff Carter exist quite clearly on the scoresheet as well.
When the season started I predicted that Jeff Carter would score 40 goals in one of the next three seasons. The fact that he has 23 now is pretty impressive since I feel we have seen a pretty even split between the two versions of Carter. In fact it may be the least recognized 23 goals in the NHL.
Carter is putting the Flyers into a spot with his play as of late.
Earlier in the year there were murmurs that they could afford to pay only two of Richards, Carter, and Umberger. And when you looked deeper, Umberger, who has quietly been the most consistent, versatile, hard working Flyer all year, has played himself into the perfect role player spot. He can swing from the first line to the third line, play all three positions up front, kill penalties, etc..Umberger reminds me a ton of Keith Primeau in his early years.
But for now, Umberger is a 2 million dollar player in my opinion.
In the new NHL you can only have so many guys that get paid over 3 million per.
The recipe for an NHL salary cap is pretty simple.
(in order of pay it usually goes like this)
1. You need your star quality vets who are getting paid based on what they have done and their experience: Briere, Timonen, Gagne, Hatcher
2. Your solid experienced tier 2 players: Knuble, Hartnell, Kapanen, Smith, Prospal, Modry
3. Your solid young guys on their first real contracts: Lupul and Upshall
4. Your entry level guys. Richards, Carter, Umberger, Coburn, Parent
5. Your 2 or 3 guys making small money, but filling big roles: Jones, Cote and Dowd
The problem for the Flyers (and every team for that matter) is that you need to keep these categories in balance somewhat.
Next year Richards jumps up to the top category and that will put pressure on Philly to move or buyout someone. Hatcher is the only candidate who can go, and he has been a valuable player for Philly this year.
Next year Umberger and Coburn jump into the #3 category which only has Lupul and Upshall at this point, so that will help balance that out nicely.
The Flyers will need to get contributions from their entry level guys like they are now, and unfortunately only Ryan Parent will be in that pool. Look for vanRiemsdyk and Giroux to step in and fill those roles.
But what happens to Carter?
He is a category 1 player and even carrying four of those players is risky. It should also be noted that Hartnell is getting category 1 money as well despite being a category 2 player. Yet he has shown that at times he can streak his way into category 1 status. (NHL 2nd star of the week, should have been #1, a while back)
So again I ask, What happens to Carter?
I do think the Flyers will find a way, but it will be tricky and could mean that only Knuble and Hartnell will remain of the current 6 category 2 guys.
That means more pressure on getting entry level guys into the line-up.
But for a potential 40-50 goal guy that Carter could become you may have no choice.
My prediction: The Flyers will sign Carter, and they will try to sign him long-term and soon. I am certain that is the plan. However, this may still have to run its course. I could see the Flyers being put into a spot where offer sheets are coming and even having to match an offer sheet to get it done.
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