Watch: Youtube Video
1. Accomplished At The AHL Level
Carpenter is a player who has conquered the AHL. He's been an All-Star at that level and an elite offensive contributor for four years. Two years ago, in fact, he led the San Jose Barracuda in scoring with 55 points (18G, 37A) in 66 games, and had 39 points (14G, 25A) in 54 games in 2016-17.
He has yet to, however, translated this into success at the NHL level. To date, he's only played 28 career games in the NHL, scoring twice.
Carpenter is seen as a player that plays an all-around game. He's not big, but has some grit. He's not a pure playmaker, but he makes plays.
He doesn't have any glaring weaknesses.
For this player, it's more about taking the next step, which he hasn't had much opportunity to do on a crowded Sharks roster.
Vegas has potential to be the chance Carpenter has waited for.
2. Is From Florida
In today's NHL, a player coming from Florida is not a common.
Carpenter is one of only five active NHL players who were born in the state of Florida, and only one of 10 in the league's 100-year history.
Although it should be noted that only three of the five active Floridians in the NHL - Shayne Gostisbehere and Jakob Chychrun being the others - were actually raised there.
What makes Carpenter more interesting is that his hometown, Oviedo, is located closer to Orlando than it is to the NHL teams in Tampa Bay and Sunrise.
Carpenter's father was a college baseball player, and he had multiple other siblings compete in athletics at the NCAA level.
3. Unique Connection With George McPhee
Although more than three decades apart, Carpenter and Golden Knights general manager George McPhee had similar paths to professional hockey.
Neither were drafted, and both parlayed superlative collegiate careers at Bowling Green into opportunities at the NHL level.
All of Carpenter's previous pro experience came with the San Jose Sharks organization.
McPhee's path in the early 1980s went through the New York Rangers organization.
