‘Youwanttoprove them wrong’

can change in pro hockey,” Carpenter said on the team’s website. “I feel like a little kid right now playing in playoffs. It’s exciting and we want to keep this thing going. It’s nice when you feel like you’re contributing. I never would’ve thought in the middle of December I’d be playing right now.”

Minnesota defenceman Nate Prosser was in a similar boat. He was claimed after St. Louis put him on waivers in late November, returning the nine-year NHL veteran to his home-state team for another stint. The Wild previously claimed Prosser off waivers from St. Louis on Oct. 2, 2014, after he had signed with the Blues that summer but was let go just before the season.

A reliable defenceman, he has taken on added responsibility after an injury to Ryan Suter.

“It puts the onus on the rest of us to amp up our game a little bit,” Prosser said. “Just different parts of the game we’ve got to make sure we’re honing in on.”

Then there’s Stefan Noesen, who’s had quite a path to wind up with the New Jersey Devils. Drafted by Ottawa in the first round in 2011 and traded to Anaheim in ’13, he was claimed by the Devils on Jan. 25, 2017. He had his first playoff goal in Game 3 against Tampa Bay.

“Just because you get put on waivers doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t play,” Nemeth said. “Sometimes the situation is the way it is and you need a new opportunity.”

That was the case for Nemeth, a second-round pick by Dallas in 2010. He played in a career-high 68 games for Colorado, with three goals, 12 assists and a plus-27 rating, highest by an Avalanche defenceman since Adam Foote in 2002-03 — the benefits of a change in scenery.

“It could be different scenarios,” Nemeth said of factors leading to being placed on waivers. “Sometimes, it’s just too many guys. Sometimes, your coach might not like you or might not appreciate what you bring to the table. It’s just different, depending on what situation you’re in. For me personally, it was good.”