Turns out you can go home again after all. Prosser had spent his entire career with the Wild prior to signing a two-year deal with the Blues last offseason, but when he was placed on waivers after playing in all of one game for St. Louis, Minnesota swooped in and claimed him. The 32-year-old played in 56 of the Wild's final 57 games, making his usual minimal offensive contribution from a bottom pairing. Prosser could hang onto that role in training camp, but the organization has a number of younger, higher-ceiling blue line prospects clamoring for ice time that he'll need to fend off, and it wouldn't be a shock to see him jettisoned to the waiver wire once again before the regular season begins.
A Minnesota native, Prosser was not retained by his hometown club after his contract expired, but the 31-year-old managed to secure a fresh two-year deal with St. Louis this offseason despite coming off a 39-game campaign that saw him manage a mere seven points. In eight seasons with the Wild, Prosser appeared in 282 games, totaling 38 points with 210 PIM -- a combination that doesn't hint at much fantasy value. The 6-foot-2 rearguard has a very limited skill set; his right-hand shot is valuable, but there’s a reason he hasn't cracked even 15 minutes of average ice time in the last five seasons. He won't play anything more than a third-pairing and occasional penalty-killing role for the Blues, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him watch a number of games from the press box.
Prosser registered two goals and five assists in 63 games in 2014-15. He'll begin the season as the seventh defensemen and will be inactive most games. He's never shown much of a scoring touch and at age 29, it's unlikely he'll improve dramatically.
After appearing in 126 games over the last five seasons with the Wild, Prosser will join a crowded St. Louis blue line and will have to compete for a roster spot in training camp. With eight formidable candidates competing for six or seven roster spots, Prosser could very well find himself on the cut line, perhaps forcing him to open the campaign at AHL Chicago. If he does manage to make the Blues, expect Prosser to only see light minutes on the third pairing, where he'll offer little fantasy upside offensively or in the defensive categories.
Prosser, an undrafted free agent from Colorado College, will be a reserve defensemen for the Wild. He's likely to sit most nights as he's down on the depth chart.
Even though he went undrafted, Prosser was able to bring an offensive touch to the blue line as a member of the Houston Aeros, Minnesota's primary minor league affiliate, in 2010-11. His numbers included eight goals and 19 assists in 31 regular season games, and he also gained valuable experience in the 2011 Calder Cup playoffs. Fantasy owners understandably love two-way defenders, and Prosser fits the description but his lack of NHL experience (five games) should be enough to keep him out of the fantasy spotlight this season.
The Minnesota native signed with the Wild as a free agent this summer. He played his college hockey at Colorado College, where he was second in WCHA defenseman in scoring with 28 points (4 G, 24 A). He impressed team officials this preseason, so although he'll probably start the season in the minors, they're expecting him to be called up at some point during the season. When or if that does happen, he won't do anything to contribute to your fantasy team.
