Former NHLer eyes comeback with the Kings

Former NHL pugilist Brandon Prust is literally fighting his way back into the NHL. After one season in Europe with the Nuemberg Ice Tigers of the German DEL, the 33 year-old veteran forward has received a Professional Try-Out (PTO) offer from the Los Angeles Kings and is hoping to make enough of an impression in training camp to earn a regular NHL contract for 2017-18. 

“My main focus is making the Kings," he said. "I'll take the same approach to L.A. that I had in Toronto. It just didn't end up working out last fall, even though I thought I'd played pretty well. I'll try to do that again."

Prust, of course, had a PTO with the Leafs prior to signing in the DEL last season. The veteran, who has amassed over 1000 career PIMs since entering the NHL in 2006, was last seen in the NHL during the 2015-16 season with the Vancouver Canucks. He played just 35 games that season due to a brutal ankle injury that required offseason surgery. With his ankle now full healed, Prust believes he’s ready to contribute at the NHL level again. There’s certainly an opportunity in LA with the team’s new management group reviewing the entire organization top to bottom. Can he crack the Kings roster? Or, are Brandon Prust’s playing days over?