Ryan Carpenter’s phone rang at 9 a.m. Wednesday and Joe Will, the San Jose Sharks’ assistant general manager, popped up on the caller ID.
Carpenter assumed that meant he cleared waivers and was headed to the American Hockey League.
“I actually had my bags packed to go to Tucson, Arizona. In case I cleared waivers, I was going to go play for the (San Jose) Barracuda,” Carpenter said Thursday. “It was a happy surprise. I was happy to hear the news.”
Carpenter practiced for the first time with the Golden Knights on Thursday at City National Arena, a day after he was claimed by the team on waivers.