Amidst the decorated scorers and veteran defenseman, Jed Prossner gets lost in the shuffle a little bit. But it’s becoming more difficult to avoid hearing the name of the fourth-year transition player who, according to some, has the most superior shot on the team.

The stat line from his National Lacrosse League career reads just like it should – better each season. After registering six goals and nine assists as a rookie with the now-defunct Portland LumberJax in 2007, Prossner recorded 14 goals and 10 assists in 2008 with the Mammoth and 15 and 20 in last season.

So far this season, he’s produced six goals and four assists in only four games, and his rockets from the high slot are becoming his signature thing.

“Jed’s game over the past few years has greatly improved,” fellow transition player Nick Carlson said. “He is fast, he has learned to play defense, and his shooting is by far the best on our whole team. He can actually teach all of us a thing or two about shooting on the run from the outside. It’s incredible how accurate he is when he lets that ball go.”

At 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, the 27-year-old Prossner is listed as a forward but has shifted to transition this season to better take advantage of his deceptive speed and precise on-the-run shooting.

“I feel comfortable out there,” Prossner said. “The transition into a transition role actually helped me out by opening things up on the offensive end. I’ve still got to work on my defense a little bit but it’s coming along.”

Coming along quite well as a whole, if even difficult-to-please general manager and coach Steve Govett has taken notice of Prossner’s ascension.

“I think he’s progressed ahead of the rate we expected,” said Govett, who lauded Prossner’s play at college in North Carolina and with the LumberJax. “He’s a big strong lefty who has great athletic tools. We think he’s a player who will be around for a long time.”

The Mammoth resumes action Saturday at Minnesota after a bye week, and Prossner is one of the key cogs Govett hopes can help the team emerge from the throes of its 2-4 start. Although he hasn’t tallied a power-play goal yet this season, Prossner is beginning to see increased time on that unit as his skill set offers a different look

“Prossner’s a guy who’s pretty specific in his role for the team and he knows what it is,” forward Jamie Shewchuk said. “He’s got the green light to transition the ball, and when he takes those shots on the run, he’s one of the best at it in the game.”

Prossner is beginning to bring to mind a former Mammoth transition player in Jay Jalbert. Not that he is a clone of the former All-Star, but he is a rare offensive-minded threat from the position. Prossner has taken cues from the veteran Carlson in adapting to the role, taking notes of the various facets of the position while ensuring not to compromise his scoring.

“He’s one of the best ones in the league and he’s been a great mentor for me,” Prossner said of Carlson. “I’ve learned a lot from him defensively, transition-wise and even on the offensive end. He’s been a huge help and part of the reason why I’ve improved each year.”

Carlson seemed genuinely honored that Prossner revered him in such a way.

“To be honest, I had no idea Prossner has ever thought or said that,” Carlson said. “Quite flattering I must say.”