Prust: 'I've always wanted to play for the Leafs'

Brandon Prust is going to try to make a dream come true.

His own, that is, after signing a professional tryout offer with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday.

"Growing up a Leafs fan, I know that's kind of where my heart is," Prust, who grew up and played junior hockey nearby London, Ont, told Dave Stubbs of NHL.com. "I've always wanted to play for the Leafs. I figure this will be a great opportunity for me."

Prust appeared in only 35 games for the Vancouver Canucks last season, and was shut down in March due to a nagging ankle injury that required surgery.

Despite his desire to stick with the Maple Leafs out of camp, he's hopeful a good showing will boost his stock if Toronto decided to go a different way.

"Every team wants to see that my ankle and my foot speed are good before I get a contract," he said. "That's one of the reasons nobody was willing to give me a contract outright - nobody was really sure how my recovery was or how I'd bounce back from last season.

"I just have to earn it now, prove that I'm back to 100 percent."

Prust has appeared in 486 career regular-season games - including three seasons with the rival Montreal Canadiens - and has 115 points and 1,036 penalty minutes to his credit.