CRANBERRY, Pa. -- The Penguins need a third-line center.
Sure, they have more needs than that. But the way I see it, a positive influence up the middle on the third line has the potential to propel this team higher than addressing any other area throughout the lineup.
Fully respecting the 1,200-game, 400-goal career Jeff Carter's had, and even what he did in his first stretch of games in Pittsburgh, he is no longer the third-line center of a contender. This team cannot be considered among the competitors of the Eastern Conference with him in his current role.