Brandon Prust leaves Leafs for German hockey league

Brandon Prust said last summer that he would “take a job anywhere” to continue his hockey career.

Germany apparently qualifies an “anywhere.”

Prust is leaving the NHL for the DEL, as Darren Dreger confirmed after a week of speculation to that effect. (That speculation was fueled by a radio interview by Prust’s fiancé in which she insinuated that it would happen.)

Prust had been on a PTO with the Toronto Maple Leafs, but was unable to turn it into a pro contract.

His team in Germany appears to be the Nurnberg Ice Tigers, which has its share of ex-NHLers, including Milan Jurcina and Steven Reinprecht.

The 32-year-old 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.

Prust is a hard-working guy that would have been at home on many fourth lines in the NHL. Alas, the Leafs already had a Matt Martin to do the things he does. And the NHL continues to shift to a “four scoring line” league, with the kind of speed a 32-year-old coming off ankle surgery may no longer possess.

Fare thee well, Brandon Prust. Germany will be entertained.

s/t Puck Daddy reader Rouven.

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Greg Wyshynski is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter. His book, TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE PUCK, is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.

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