The Greatness That Is Chris Pronger

Commentary below the videos.





"LOVE CBC's footage of Chris Pronger stealing the pucks at the end of both games. He is truly a comprehensive dick."
"How childish can you be?"
"Completely classless."

I could go on and on and on, but the point is there. Some people think Chris Pronger is a classless douche bag. They think he is a jerk, crybaby, and every other word you can come up with for someone who is not a good guy to be around. But those perceptions of Chris Pronger are just that. They are perceptions.

And perception is not reality. Reality is reality and the reality is Chris Pronger is not someone who is a classless crybaby. He is a smart. He can be cold, but he is calculating. He is a leader. He knows exactly what he is doing, who he is doing it to, and the repercussions of his actions. Folks that criticize him and call him inane names only do so because they are viewing him from the outside and the perceptions they already have with him. Here is a transcript of a conversation Chris Pronger had in last night's post-game press conference with CSN Philly's Tim Panaccio. In other words, they don't get it and they don't get him.

As the final horn sounded Monday night at United Center and the Blackhawks skated off the ice as 2-1 victors in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final, Pronger picked up the puck.

Apparently, he did it in Game 1 too.

That annoyed ex-Flyer Ben Eager, who said something to him. Here’s the exchange between CSNPhilly.com and the Delco Times with Pronger:

What happened?

“I couldn’t hear him, I don’t speak gibberish,” said Pronger, who picked up a misconduct penalty at the very end and got into it with Eager.

“He’s been picking up pucks after the game and I just told him he can keep it,” Eager said minutes earlier, before Pronger spoke.

Where’s the puck, Pronger was asked.

“It’s in the garbage,” Pronger replied. “Where it belongs.”

You shot a towel at Eager when he complained?

“So what,” Pronger replied.

You’re collecting pucks now?

“Why not? What’s wrong? It’s sitting there. What else is gonna happen to it? It’s sitting there. Sure, why not. You got a problem with that?”

Are you gonna sell it on eBay?

“I don’t know. Apparently, it got him upset. So I guess it worked, didn’t it? It’s too bad. I guess little things amuse little minds.”

To those that think Pronger is a hypocrite for that last sentence just do not get it or him.

Pronger does not give a damn about what happens to the puck at the end of the game. But he does care about his team, leading by example and getting under the other team's skin.

Let's face facts, what is the biggest story coming out of the Flyers camp this afternoon? Is it Mike Richards lack of production in the series? Is it Claude Giroux's lack of production of the series? No, it's about Pronger. And one thing about Chris Pronger is he is a stud NHL defenseman who has no problem being the center of attention. Because the more someone like him is the center of attention, the less the attention is given to some of the younger guys who are experiencing the Stanley Cup for the first time and are brand new to this atmosphere and pressure. The more Chris Pronger is talked about over a silly non-issue that netted him a game misconduct at the end of the game and a $100 fine, the better it is for the team.

Another thing this does is it pisses off the Blackhawks and more specifically in this case, Ben Eager. Now for those that do not know, Ben Eager is known for taking dumb penalties. The Blackhawks seem to be legitimately upset about this and Chris Pronger may very well be inside of his head now. If Ben Eager tries to get Pronger back by taking a run at him or something and in doing so, has a Ben Eager moment, guess what, it is a Flyers power play all of a sudden. So if/when that needless little scrum at the end of the game costs Eager a penalty and gives the Flyers a PP, then people may think twice before criticizing him and calling him a "comprehensive dick."

By letting Chris Pronger's mindgames get to them, the Blackhawks have opened the Flyers window of opportunity just a crack. It is now up to the Flyers to capitalize.

Chris Pronger Knows The Flyers Goaltending Situation By Heart!

It appears as if Chris Pronger (and his elbows) are in a good mood this morning. When asked about the Flyers goaltending situation this morning, he broke it down so well that you would have to be a simpleton to not understand what was going on. Here are Chris Pronger's words via NHL.com

It might have taken him a while to figure it out, but Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger believes he has solved the goalie carousel in Philadelphia. In the process of offering his explanation, he also provided a good laugh.

"Well, I've never seen this type of situation where you have a starter and have another starter, then another," Pronger told the media Wednesday morning. "Then you go back to the other starter and go back to your third guy, who's now the second guy, who became your first guy, who was your cousins' brothers' sisters', friend."

Like we said, "Prongs" has finally figured it out!

See! And you thought all the random people the Flyers have been getting to play goaltender was just that, a bunch of random people. There is a method to the madness, I tell you, and the Flyers' very own Assistant Captain Elbows has figured it out!

Get Used To Seeing Chris Pronger Around These Parts

It was really only a matter of time before this happened, but alas, I desparately something to post on other than Keith Olbermann and/or Manny Ramirez. Chris Pronger has signed a multi-year extension with the Flyers after being traded by the Anaheim Ducks with only one year left in his contract. From CSN Philly.

On Monday Chris Pronger said he would like to retire a Flyer. A day later, Pronger took a step in that direction, agreeing to a seven-year extension. According to sources, the deal is worth $34.45 million.

The extension will begin in the 2010-11 season and run through 2017 with Pronger earning $7.6 million in both the first two years, $7.2 million in 2012-13, $7 million in 2013-14, $4 million in 2014-15, and $525,000 in each of the final two years of the deal.

Pronger will be 42 at the time the contract expires.

The contract is front loaded in order to keep it cap friendly. It is structured similar to the deal signed by Mike Richards, also a client of agent Pat Morris. In 2007 Richards signed a 12-year, $69 million deal.

“I am very excited to be able to retire a Philadelphia Flyer and I am looking forward to many years with the Flyers logo on my chest,” Pronger said in a statement released by the team. “I think both parties wanted to get it handled in a timely fashion in order to move on and get things set up for future years down the line so that the Flyers could make moves either this year or next year, and know that they had me in place.”

This is either a really great move or it's going to bite the Flyers in the ass big time. They gave up a whole heck of a lot, including 2 1st round draft picks, in order to get Pronger, and with all that they gave up, if the Flyers do not win a Stanley Cup with him in the next few years, this move will likely be regarded as a failure. I like the move insomuch as they got a really good, veteran defenseman (something they need) whose style of play matches the style of the Flyers themselves, but if the price was too high and the Flyers can't win a Cup in the next few years, the Flyers could end up suffering big-time in the long run.

So What NHL Player Is Worth Giving Up Joffrey Lupul, Luca Sbisa, This Year's 1st Round Pick, And Next Year's First Round Pick?

The answer, at least according to the Philadelphia Flyers is none other than Chris Pronger! Via NHL.com

The Anaheim Ducks kicked off the 2009 NHL Entry Draft in memorable fashion, dealing veteran defenseman Chris Pronger to the Philadelphia Flyers moments before the New York Islanders selected John Tavares with the first pick.

The Flyers shipped prospect Luca Sbisa, forward Joffrey Lupul and two first-round picks: this season's No. 21 and next season's first-round pick.

Pronger, 34, was one of several players being actively shopped here this week. He became even more expendable when veteran defenseman Scott Niedermayer reportedly told the Ducks that he would return for another season, instead of retiring.

This past season Pronger played in all 82 games, scoring 11 goals and 48 points. He also had 88 penalty minutes and will give the Flyers a rugged presence on the blue line, something they were lacking after losing Derian Hatcher to an injury-induced retirement.

While the Flyers certainly need a defensemen, especially after Hatcher's retirement, what worries me is Pronger's age and the fact that the Flyers paid such a high price to get him. I can live with saying goodbye to Lupul and Spisa, a young prospect, but I think that 2 first round picks might be a lot, if not too much for him. One 1st round draft pick, whether it be this year's and next year's along with Spisa and Lupul and I would consider this deal an absolute win. It's that 2nd 1st rounder that has worried that the Flyers paid too many bucks for the bang of a 34-year old defensemen, even though it is Chris Pronger.

Regardless, I certainly hope that Pronger still has gas and the tank and despite the high price, I am excited and glad to see that Chris Pronger is now a Flyer!

Update: According to Puck Daddy, the Flyers have also received Ryan Dingle from the Anaheim Ducks in this deal. Trust me, you're not the only one asking, "Who on earth.....???" I'm pretty sure he's a young prospect....