The Blue Jackets have sent defencemen Dalton Prout down to Cleveland Monsters on a conditioning assignment.
#CBJ loan Dalton Prout to @monstershockey on a conditioning assignment → https://t.co/i1Tqzr3XUe pic.twitter.com/7LhPMeKPxl
— ColumbusBlueJackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) December 8, 2016
Prout has played in eight games this season, and has yet to record a point. His last game came almost a month ago, November 12th against St. Louis. Prout has been in a tough spot this season as the Jackets 7th defencemen. The team has been very good and very healthy so there has been little reason to shake things up. The Jackets also have Scott Harrington up with the NHL team and he took an opportunity away from Prout when Seth Jones was injured.
I don’t think Prout or the team expected something like this was going to happen when Prout signed his two-year extension. I don’t think any player would sign a deal expecting to play so few games. This is why you don’t sign depth players for more than a year. I think Prout is a serviceable bottom pair defencemen, but if a better player comes along, he is the first one to get bumped. This is not a situation that is expected to change next season either. All six of the Jackets defencemen are projected to return, pending the expansion draft. Prout will remain as injury insurance.
To his credit Prout has taken this well. He seems to know his role and hasn’t complained (at least not publicly) about it. He is a good plug and play guy who can step in and play his game when called upon. In eight games this season he's had a respectable 48.52% Corsi at 5 on 5.This conditioning assignment will give Prout a chance to get some game action, keeping his skills sharp for when he is called upon.
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