New Jersey Devils: Dalton Prout Needs A Demotion
By Nick Villano
The New Jersey Devils looked completely out of sync in the second period Thursday night. One player who looked completely out of place was defenseman Dalton Prout.
It’s hard for me to be negative on such a positive day. The New Jersey Devils cracked the defensive code of the Ottawa Senators, scoring two goals in the third period and one in overtime for an unlikely win. It was another exciting game from the new look Devils. That doesn’t mean changes don’t need to happen.
Dalton Prout was awful for the Devils. He was in the wrong place on multiple occasions. Prout was the big offender on at least two goals. On Derick Brassard’s game-tying goal, Prout did not move. Bobby Ryan passed the puck across the ice, and hit the stick of Brassard. Nico Hischier was a quarter of a step behind, but Prout should have been the player in the way of the pass. Cory Schneider still should have stopped that shot, but that’s not the point.
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On Tom Pyatt’s goal in front, Prout was the last guy to touch it for the Devils. He knocked it out of the corner. Instead of going back towards the net to stop a chance, he strolled towards the puck. It was sent in front, and Will Butcher was forced to fight off two players before they scored.
He also got two penalties, a big issue for the Devils. The team’s penalty kill is 27th in the league at just over 75 percent. The Devils can’t afford to spend too much time on the penalty kill. Prout spends most of his career in the penalty box.
I get Prout’s place on the team. He’s there to stop the Tom Wilson’s of the world. Unfortunately, in today’s NHL that doesn’t warrant a spot on the roster. The Devils need to give Mirco Mueller a chance to cut his teeth on the ice. He hasn’t been atrocious, even if he hasn’t lived up to expectations.
Prout likely won’t get claimed off waivers if he is sent down to the AHL. Then, he can try to see what made him such a good defenseman this preseason and find that confidence. If he did get claimed, no big loss.