Carkner saw his offensive numbers explode during the 2005-06 season with the Barons, as he scored 10 goals and 31 points in 69 games. He also made his NHL debut with the Sharks that year, appearing in one game and recording an assist in six minutes of ice time on February 6, 2006, in a 4–3 loss to the Calgary Flames. Carkner became a free agent at the end of the season and signed a contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins on July 23, 2006. He spent the entire 2006-07 season with the Penguins' AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Carkner had a goal and 19 penalty minutes during the team's playoff run. After just one season with the Penguins, Carkner left as a free agent and signed with his hometown Ottawa Senators team on July 3, 2007. The entire 2007-08 season was spent with the Senators' AHL affiliate, the Binghamton Senators, spending two seasons there while also playing one game with Ottawa in a 6–4 loss to the Boston Bruins on January 8, 2009.