Ryan Carpenter thought the San Jose Sharks placing him on waivers in December 2017 might have been the end of his NHL career.
Instead, it was only the beginning.
The Golden Knights picked the 28-year-old up Dec. 13, 2017 and he’s been a steady presence in the lineup this season. He took advantage of his second chance, which is why the Las Vegas chapter of the Pro Hockey Writers Association nominated him for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. The award is given to the player who best demonstrates “qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.”
“I’m an older guy and I figured if they were sending me down and they were giving some other guys looks that maybe my shot there was kind of done,” Carpenter said.