Why Jeff Carter is worthy of Hart Trophy consideration
The Los Angeles Kings are in a playoff spot, and it's largely thanks to Jeff Carter.
The veteran center scored a pair of goals in Wednesday's win over Colorado, and continues to carry the offensive load for a roster that's otherwise struggling to put the puck in the net.
Carter has now scored 26 goals in 51 games, two behind Sidney Crosby for the league lead and one ahead of reigning Richard Trophy winner Alex Ovechkin.
That Carter is on pace for 42 goals over the course of 82 games is significant on a personal level, seeing as he's topped the 40-goal mark only once in his previous 11 seasons (46 in 2008-09). But what's even more striking is where the Kings would be this season without his hot stick.
Carter's 26 goals account for exactly 20 percent of Los Angeles' total to date, as the Kings rank 21st among all teams with 130 goals through 51 games.
Winger Tanner Pearson is the only other King to hit double-digits in goals so far this season (15), and Carter is quite simply skating laps around the rest of his teammates.
- 8 goals: Drew Doughty, Tyler Toffoli
- 7 goals: Alec Martinez, Dustin Brown, Jake Muzzin, Trevor Lewis
To be fair, Toffoli - who led the Kings with 31 goals last season - has missed several games due to injury, but that only highlights how important Carter's scoring has been, especially when one considers star center Anze Kopitar is on pace for only 10 goals despite averaging 25 for every 82 games played over the course of his career.
Carter, then, is putting himself in line to challenge for the Richard Trophy as the NHL's highest goal scorer, but the rate at which he's carrying the Kings offense warrants serious Hart Trophy consideration should Los Angeles be able to hold on to a playoff spot.