Prokop Humbled by Support, Enjoying Time at Predators Development Camp

Luke Prokop has never felt better.
Like the rest of his Predators Development Camp teammates, the 19-year-old has enjoyed getting to know his peers on and off the ice during his first trip to Nashville while playing the sport he loves at the same time.
A 2020 third-round pick of the Preds - who just happened to list Nashville as his favorite NHL team while growing up - Prokop was eager to show coaches and management his skillset on the blueline after signing his entry-level contract last December. Now that he's here, the defenseman has appreciated the process thus far after three days of practices and off-ice training and video sessions.
Prokop is also
one month removed from making a historic announcement
when he became
the first active player signed by an NHL team to reveal he is gay
.

The support came immediately from the hockey world and beyond, and that backing has continued into Development Camp this week, a fact that has made the entire process that much more enjoyable and humbling throughout.
"It's been really cool," Prokop said Wednesday. "I've gotten a lot of messages and support from players around the NHL, and also my league in the WHL. The guys here have been fantastic. I've had a few guys come up to me and just talk about it and say they're really proud of me. I can just go on the ice now and just focus on being a hockey player and trying to make the Nashville Predators organization.
"After I had my phone call with the [Predators] management staff, they kind of wanted me to get in touch with some of the [NHL] players in the [Nashville] leadership group. For them to reach out and just have their words of encouragement was something I won't forget. I'll always remember that, and again, I've felt that my first few days here, the guys have been really receptive and really good about it. I couldn't be happier."

That contentment has translated on the ice, and that's what Prokop really wants.
An alternate captain with the Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey League last season, Prokop appeared in 15 games for the club and recorded two goals and six points. The 6-foot-4, 218-pound blueliner posted a career high 23 points (4g-19a) in 59 contests during the previous campaign with the Hitmen.
Prokop anticipates heading back to Calgary this season to continue his junior career following expected appearances in Nashville's Rookie Camp and main Training Camp later in September, and after signing that entry-level deal, he's excited to see what the future holds.
"[Signing that contract is] kind of the next step after you get drafted, and I didn't want to have to be worrying about that for too long, so I was happy and honored to sign my contract," Prokop said. "The next step would be either making Nashville or having another good junior season and then kind of developing through Milwaukee [in the AHL with the Admirals]. That's kind of the next step for me is just going back to junior this next year, having a really strong season and showing the organization what I can do here at camp."
Every player at Development Camp has their own story of what the past 18 months have been like as they try to advance their hockey careers, and while Prokop has had an extra element in that path, being back on the ice has been a welcome change in more ways than one.
Prokop had always just been one of the guys around the rink, and much to his appreciation, that hasn't changed one bit.
"Everyone's been excited to get here and get on the ice and show the organization what they can do," Prokop said. "The practices have been great, the pace has been really high and I think everyone's just really excited to be here. And for me, I feel the best personally that I've ever felt in my life."