Carter, 29, was traded Monday to the Los Angeles Kings for fellow forward Jared Aulin.
Carter posted five goals and five assists for 10 points in 19 games with Washington, which acquired him from the New York Rangers for Jagr on Jan. 3.
It marked Carter's second stint with the sad-sack Capitals, with whom he made 19 appearances as an NHL rookie in 1996-97.
Anson Carter, left, was traded Monday night to the L.A. Kings.(AP Photo/Stephen J. Boitano)
"Yeah, I'm very excited," said Carter, who resides in Los Angeles during the off-season.
"It's a chance to join the playoff race."
Carter has 15 goals and 27 points in 62 games so far this season.
The Toronto native was a plus-2 for the Capitals after going minus-12 in 43 appearances with the Rangers.
"We're excited to add Anson Carter to our lineup as we approach this critical point of the season," Kings general manager Dave Taylor said. "We brings size, strength, experience and a proven ability to score in the NHL."
Carter has 158 goals and 337 points in 514 games over eight NHL seasons with the Capitals, Boston Bruins, Edmonton Oilers and Rangers.
The Toronto native was originally drafted in the 10th round – 220th overall – by the Quebec Nordiques in 1992, only to have his rights traded to Washington for a fourth-round draft pick on Apr. 3, 1996.
Carter earned notoriety last spring by scoring the gold medal-clinching goal for Team Canada at the IIHF World Hockey Championships.
By coincidence, Canada was coached by Kings bench boss Andy Murray.
"We hope this acquisition will give our team a real boost for our playoff drive," Taylor said.
Aulin, who turns 22 on March 15, has yet to play this season because of shoulder surgery.
The Calgary-born centre compiled two goals and four points in 17 games as a Kings rookie in 2002-03.
He also totalled 12 goals and 44 points in 44 appearances with the AHL Manchester Monarchs.
Aulin was initially drafted in the second round – 47th overall – by Colorado in 2000.
But the former Kamloops Blazers star wound up the player to be named later in the Feb. 21, 2001, trade which also saw the Avalanche send Adam Deadmarsh, Aaron Miller and a first-rounder to Los Angeles for Rob Blake and Steven Reinprecht.
