Tuhia he haere tonu mo tenei whitianga - I timata a Carter i tana mahi ngaio i te 1996-97, i wehewehe i tana wa me nga Capitals me to raatau hononga o te American Hockey League (AHL), ko te Portland Pirates, i mua i tana whakawhiti ki te Boston Bruins i te Poutu-te-rangi 1, 1997. Hei wāhanga o tētahi kirimana nui, ka tukuna atu a Carter ki a Jason Allison, Jim Carey, he kōwhiringa ā-ture i te tau 1998
me te kōwhiringa tuatoru o te tau 1997 ki te Bruins hei utu mō Adam Oates, Bill Ranford me Rick Tocchet.