Toronto Maple Leafs invite Brandon Prust to camp on tryout
Earlier in the offseason former Vancouver Canucks forward Brandon Prust said he would “take a job anywhere.”
That place appears to be the Toronto Maple Leafs. General manager Lou Lamoriello said he decided to invite the physical winger to training camp on a PTO.
The 32-year-od Prust had one goal and seven points in 35 games with the Canucks last season. He missed 11 games earlier in the year with an ankle injury and then was later placed on waivers. Prust said he believed he returned too quickly from the ankle issue, which led to his struggles after he came back. Prust was sent to the AHL before he went home to rehab his ankle. He eventually had offseason surgery.
In 486 career NHL games, Prust has 40 goals and 115 points to go along with 1,036 penalty minutes.
Last season, Prust made headlines for spearing Boston Bruins agitator Brad Marchand in the groin area and then being fined $5,000 for the play. Prust later called it the “Best money I’ve ever spent.”
The Canucks acquired Prust last summer in a deal with the Montreal Canadiens for winger Zack Kassian. Prust signed a four-year $10 million contract with the Habs before the 2012-13 season.
“My goal isn’t to start in the AHL,” Prust said earlier in the offseason. “I would like to go to camp and just be able to prove I still belong.”
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Josh Cooper is an editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @joshuacooper
