The New York Rangers recently agreed to terms with rugged forward Brandon Prust on a new contract. Hopefully, Prust’s career as a Ranger lasts a bit longer than his previous NHL stints. Prust is savvy with his fists, and he also has shown some decent hockey skills. In fact, his first NHL goal was the game-winner for the Calgary Flames in a 4-1 win at Phoenix in 2008.
Brandon Prust New York Rangers
Light heavyweight Brandon Prust, 26, appeared in 69 games with the Rangers and Calgary Flames last season, registering five goals and nine assists for 14 points. He racked up a career-high 163 penalty minutes, as well as established personal bests in goals (5), assists (9), and points (14). As proof of Prust’s increasing value as a hockey player, he contributed three game-winning goals last year. In fact, Prust finished last year on a high note, notching three goals and one assist on the Rangers six-game road trip from March 25 to April 6.
The 5-11, 195-pounder made his Rangers debut on February 2 at Los Angeles, hours after being traded from Calgary along with Olli Jokinen, in exchange for Christopher Higgins and Ales Kotalik. In his debut he picked up 17 minutes in penalties for instigating a brief scrap with Brandon Segal. He finished the year with 25 fighting majors, placing third in the league and ninth in penalty minutes. Ranger fans are ecstatic about a lineup which will feature Prust and NHL reigning heavyweight champion Derek Boogaard.
Brandon Prust Hockey Fights
Prust is a scrappy, resolute light heavyweight, who has no qualms or fears about stepping up in weight class against heavyweights such as Zack Stortini or Matt Walker. Prust picked up seven fighting majors as a New York Ranger, including two fights in the same period against Andrew Peters of the New Jersey Devils. Prust, who should see his ice time increase in New York, chipped in his first goal as a Blueshirt while skating in his 100th career NHL game at New Jersey on March 10.
Before becoming a Ranger, Prust led Calgary with 98 penalty minutes and placed second on the team with a respectable plus-six rating. Prust feuded with Vancouver Canucks winger Rick Rypien three times as a Flame in 2009-2010, including one battle which turned out to be one of the greatest hockey fights of the 2000-2010 decade.
As of 2009-2010, he has seen the ice in 115 career NHL games with the Rangers, Calgary Flames, and Phoenix Coyotes (11 games, 29 penalty minutes, in 2008-2009), logging six goals, 11 assists, 17 assists, and 296 penalty minutes.
Prust should be busy in the fight department in 2010, in what will hopefully turn out to be an eventful, spirited year in a tougher, bulkier, nastier, more fistic Atlantic Division. There is plenty of new toughness and grit in the division - Matt Walker, Jody Shelley, D.J. King, Zenon Konopka - and Prust should have his hands full.
Brian D'Ambrosio - Brian D'Ambrosio is the author of more than 500 published articles and seven books, including From Haikus to Hatmaking: A Year in the Life ...
