Ryan Carter
Ryan Michael Carter | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 3, 1983 United States |
| Occupation | Professional ice hockey forward (retired) |
| Years active | 2006–2017 |
| Known for | Playing in the National Hockey League (NHL) |
Ryan Michael Carter (born August 3, 1983) is a retired American professional ice hockey forward who competed in close to 500 contests within the National Hockey League (NHL).
Early career
Between 2001 and 2004, Carter skated for the Green Bay Gamblers in the United States Hockey League (USHL). He subsequently played collegiate hockey at Minnesota State University, Mankato from 2004 through 2006.
Anaheim Ducks
Carter joined the Anaheim Ducks organization in 2006, spending time with their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Portland Pirates, where he tallied 16 goals and 20 assists over 76 games. He was promoted to the Ducks during the 2007 postseason, participating in four matches as Anaheim secured the Stanley Cup, earning his name on the championship trophy.
On February 8, 2008, Carter netted his first two NHL goals against goaltender Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils. Later that year, he sustained a wrist injury when his arm inadvertently passed through a photographer’s hole in the glass, necessitating surgery and causing him to miss six weeks of action.
On April 29, 2008, Carter inked a new three-year contract with Anaheim valued at $2 million. During the 2008–09 campaign, he adopted jersey number 20—the first forward in Anaheim to wear that number since Steve Rucchin—and appeared in 48 games, often serving as a healthy scratch, finishing with nine points. He recorded his first NHL playoff point by scoring against the San Jose Sharks on April 25, 2009.
Carolina Hurricanes
On November 23, 2010, Carter was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for minor league forwards Matt Kennedy and Stefan Chaput. Over 32 games with Carolina, he contributed three assists.
Florida Panthers
Carter was dealt to the Florida Panthers on February 24, 2011, along with a fifth-round pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, in return for Cory Stillman. He later signed a one-year, two-way contract with Florida on July 9, 2011.
New Jersey Devils
During the 2011–12 season, Carter was claimed off waivers by the New Jersey Devils on October 26, 2011. In the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs, he scored five goals and added two assists as New Jersey advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals. On April 8, 2014, Carter was honored with the New Jersey Devils Player’s Player Award. He participated in the Devils’ training camp for the 2014–15 season on a try-out basis.
Minnesota Wild
After not securing a contract from New Jersey, Carter signed a one-year agreement with the Minnesota Wild on October 6, 2014. Following two seasons with Minnesota, he remained unsigned during the summer and accepted a try-out opportunity with the Wild but did not receive a contract offer. On October 9, 2016, he underwent shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum. After completing rehabilitation, Carter joined Minnesota’s AHL affiliate, the Iowa Wild, on a professional try-out in February 2017 and subsequently signed a one-year two-way deal for the remainder of the 2016-17 NHL season. He concluded his stint with Iowa by contributing three points in eighteen games.
On September 10, 2017, Carter officially announced his retirement after a decade-long career in the NHL.
Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2000–01 | White Bear Lake Area High School | HS-MN | ||||||||||||
| 2001–02 | White Bear Lake Area High School | HS-MN | ||||||||||||
| 2001–02 | Green Bay Gamblers | USHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | Green Bay Gamblers | USHL | 55 | 19 | 17 | 36 | 94 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2003–04 | Green Bay Gamblers | USHL | 59 | 22 | 23 | 45 | 131 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2004–05 | Minnesota State | WCHA | 37 | 15 | 8 | 23 | 44 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005–06 | Minnesota State | WCHA | 39 | 19 | 16 | 35 | 71 | — | — | — | ||||
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NHL totals | 473 | 41 | 52 | 93 | 444 | 46 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 48 | ||
International
| Year | Nation | Tournament | Placement | Games Played | Goals | Assists | Points | Penalty Minutes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | United States | World Championship | 13th place | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 2013 | United States | World Championship | Bronze Medal | 10 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 10 |
| Total Senior Appearances | 16 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 14 | |||
Awards and achievements
| Distinction | Year Awarded |
|---|---|
| Finalist for Minnesota Mr. Hockey (USHS) | 2002 |
| Stanley Cup Champion (Anaheim Ducks, NHL) | 2007 |
| FHL Cup Winner (Team Grey, FHL) | 2019 |