Kings trade Johnson for Jack Carter

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LOS ANGELES, Feb. 24 (UPI) -- The Los Angeles Kings said they received center Jeff Carter from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for defenseman Jack Johnson.

The Kings, which also gave the Blue Jackets a first-round draft choice in 2012 or 2013 in exchange for Carter, said the trade was an attempt to beef up the team's offense, the Los Angeles Times reported Friday.

"The only way that we can make this deal is because we have some young defensemen coming through the system," Kings President and General Manager Dean Lombardi said. "It kind of allowed us to reach out to a player of this caliber who is still a young player, barely in his prime."

"This isn't a rental. This isn't a classic trade-deadline deal where you are giving young players for a rental-type situation. It's a hockey deal," he said.

Carter had 15 goals and 25 points in 39 games for the Blue Jackets.