Former Canuck Brandon Prust gets another (last?) shot at NHL with Kings

As hockey teams prepare to go back to training camp, rosters are, for the most part, full. Aside from a few restricted free agents that certain teams haven't been able to ink (cough Horvat cough), the majority of teams' rosters are set and ready. 

Of course, this doesn't count the professional tryout offers that you'll start hearing about. 

PTOs are often given out to older NHLers who have yet to retire but have failed to get any offers for their services. This year features some significant names, including Jarome Iginla, Shane Doan and the venerable life force that is Jaromir Jagr. The first of such contracts given out didn't go to any of those greybeards, however. 

On Friday, it was announced that Brandon Prust signed a PTO with the Los Angeles Kings, taking his particular skillset to Hollywood. The 33-year-old forward is an agitator who, for a little while there, was thought to be the second coming of enforcers in the NHL. He has speed, a decent touch around the net, and a willingness to drop the gloves in an instant if needed. 

He was effective with the New York Rangers and Montreal Canadiens (he also played earlier in his career for the Flames and Coyotes) before being traded to Vancouver along with a fifth round pick for Zack Kassian. Immediately, pundits were confused as to the price the Canucks paid for the winger. While Prust, as noted, can play a certain role effectively, it was thought that Kassian still had too much potential to be traded for a spare piece. 

And though Kassian flamed out rather spectacularly with the Canadiens (he never played a game for the club, as he entered the league's substance abuse program after a car crash in earlier October 2015), he has become a competent role player for the Edmonton Oilers, chipping in 24 points in 79 games this year, as well as protecting some of the team's younger stars. 

Prust, on the other hand, played 35 games with the Canucks, putting up seven points. He was sent down to Utica for nine games (he put up another seven points there) before injuring his ankle and ending his season. Last summer he also signed a PTO, that time with the Maple Leafs, but failed to make the roster and took his talents to Germany and the Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers Nürnberg. 

Of course, one can't address the late career transitions of Brandon Prust without wondering how it'll all play out on the reality drama Hockey Wives. Prust's wife, Maripier Morin, became a breakout star of the show. She wasn't thrilled to hear about Prust's trade from her hometown Montreal to Lotus Land, but here's betting the TV personality is hoping her husband catches on with the Kings.