The 37-year-old forward could have become an unrestricted free agent after this season. He was in the final season of an 11-year contract he signed with the Philadelphia Flyers on Nov. 13, 2010.
"First off, I'm getting to the end of my career here and I want to win," Carter said Thursday. "So you look at the team we have and the group we have in there, it's got a lot of potential to do something special. So that was a big part of it. And then on the other side is that my family really likes it here. They've adjusted well. It's close to a lot of my wife's friends and family, and my family as well. So it's been a good fit all around for us. It was really just an easy decision for us."
He was acquired by the Penguins in a trade with the Los Angeles Kings on April 12, 2021.
"Jeff's been a big part of our group since he's come in," Pittsburgh general manager Ron Hextall said Thursday. "He gives us another veteran leader. He gives us a lot of versatility. He just has a real presence around the room, around the younger players. As I said, he can play the right side. He can play the middle. He can take face-offs. He can play the power play, penalty kill. He does a lot of good things for us. So he's been a good guy. We're happy to have him for the next two years."
Carter has scored 26 points (12 goals, 14 assists) in 37 games this season.
"I think it's great for our team. 'Carts' has been a big part of this team since 'Hexy' acquired him," coach Mike Sullivan said, "I think he's enjoying his time here with his teammates. So for me, it's a win-win all around. It makes our team, I think, gives us a little more stability moving forward. It gives us the balance that we so value down the middle of the ice.
"So I think that's one step that I think is a real positive step that Hexy and Carts have taken to try to solidify this group moving forward that we believe is a special group and has a chance to win. So I'm thrilled for Jeff. I'm really excited for our team. I just think the stability moving forward can only help us."
Selected by Philadelphia in the first round (No. 11) of the 2003 NHL Draft, Carter has scored 788 points (411 goals, 377 assists) in 1,131 regular-season games with the Penguins, Kings, Columbus Blue Jackets and Flyers.
Carter has scored 79 points (43 goals, 36 assists) in 126 Stanley Cup Playoff games and won the Stanley Cup twice with the Los Angeles Kings (2012, 2014).
NHL.com independent correspondent Wes Crosby contributed to this report
