Bill Peters insists Dalton Prout will be in the Calgary Flames‘ lineup Saturday because he’s the next man up on the depth chart.
Not many are buying it.
Not many have a problem with it either, as the veteran defenceman will now become one of the unlikely focal points of a Hockey Night in Canada rematch with the Canucks.
There’s little doubt in the minds of most Flames observers Prout is getting the nod ahead of hotshot call-up Rasmus Andersson because of the physical presence he brings to a team short on, um, peacekeepers.
Three days after the Flames’ 5-2 loss in Vancouver, all the talk has revolved around Erik Gudbranson’s hit on Dillon Dube and the ill-fated fight it prompted Travis Hamonic to pick.
With word early Friday Hamonic was diagnosed with a face fracture courtesy of a Gudbranson uppercut that will sideline him “week to week,” calls to bulk up the lineup got louder.
And who better to do so than one of the last men left in hockey who can boast a resume that includes three fights will Milan Lucic, two with Chris Neil and Chris Stewart, not to mention Shawn Thornton, Tom Wilson, Jason Chimera, Pat Maroon and Eric Boulton?
Impressive.
An eight-year NHL pro with 21 fights and 242 games on his resumé, the 28-year-old Kingsville, Ont., native has also done battle with heavyweights Cody McCormick, Michael Haley, Wayne Simmonds, Cody McLeod, Tim Jackman and a guy named… Gudbranson.
Yep, same guy.
So, while Prout is signed to a one-way deal, has plenty of NHL experience and should be able to seamlessly fit into the lineup of his third NHL team, does he think it’s fair that most Flames fans believe he’s being activated to exact some revenge on Gudbranson?
“It’s absolutely fair,” smiled the affable sixth-round pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets, completely at ease on front of the cameras and mics.
“At the end of the day, we’re entertainers — people pay to watch us perform.”
Will that performance include a visit with Gudbranson?
“When you play teams in your division, you want rivalries — it brings out the best in you,” said Prout, a six-foot-three, 215-pound acquisition the Flames made last year in the Eddie Lack trade.
“When this team has its back against the wall, there’s enough character in this room to take care of each other and support one another. Any time a teammate gets hurt, you take note of it. If you get a chance to finish the body, play hard, play physical, make it uncomfortable for them, we’re going to do it.”
Elusive, yet intriguing. It’s the correct and safe answer to an issue that has plenty of grey areas these days. Fact is, most of this talk of “evening the score” is silliness given Hamonic did what he thought was the right thing, and the six-foot-five, 217-pound Gudbranson simply protected himself.
Unfortunately, he caught Hamonic with a devastating upper cut to finish the fight, inflicting instant damage.
No one wants to see, or experience, that. No one has done anything wrong, and the slate is clean. By no means should Prout feel the need to go looking for a fight with Gudbranson Saturday, which isn’t to say it couldn’t happen organically.
For what it’s worth, Gudbranson isn’t a goon, knew the early hit on Dube was questionable (it drew an interference call) and fully expected a Flames response Wednesday night. He said he feels bad Hamonic was injured and respects the way he stood up for the rookie.
So does Prout.
“Absolutely — he did the right thing for the team. He put the team first,” said Prout of Hamonic’s actions. “Did he do the right thing as far as his own well-being? Obviously not.
People outside the game don’t know how much that means inside this room and how hard it is to put yourself in harm’s way. It’s a really hard thing to explain to people who don’t know the game.
“He has the utmost respect of everyone in this room, carries himself like a true pro, has a lot of games in this league and absolutely did the right thing.”
[sidebar]
Would he have done the same thing?
“It’s tough because at the end of the day, you have to win a hockey game,” said Prout, who will start the game playing on the third pairing with rookie Juuso Valimaki.
“But, with that being said, you have to go about it in a smart way. You can’t do it in a way where you’re sacrificing your own game, getting yourself emotional tied up into making mistakes or being frustrated. It’s a long season — each game has its ups and down. You’ve got to be patient with it — each guy gets his chance.”
In other words, pick your spots.
Many will tune in just to see exactly how — or if — he plans to do that.
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