FanHouse's Adam Gretz takes a look at his top 50 players in the NHL. No. 17 is Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger. You can question how much the Philadelphia Flyers were willing to give up to acquire Chris Pronger at this year's NHL draft (Joffrey Lupul, Luca Sbisa and two first-round picks), and you can also question the sanity of the seven-year contract extension they signed him to a few weeks later (the NHL certainly is).
Something that's difficult to question? How much he and the city of Philadelphia are a perfect fit for one another, and how much better he makes the Flyers, at least for the next couple of seasons.
The NHL's Top 50 Players: See the Entire List
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Draft Year: 1993
"Nobody remembers who was chosen No. 2" -- Alexandre Daigle
Taken second overall by the Hartford Whalers, one spot after Ottawa selected Alexandre Daigle. The Whalers traded him to St. Louis after two seasons for Brendan Shanahan.
Why He's On My List
Perhaps the most hated player in the NHL -- unless he happens to be playing for your team -- he brings intimidating size, brute strength and a cannon of a shot from the blue line to a Flyers team that should now have one of the best defensive trios in the league with Pronger, Kimmo Timonen and Braydon Coburn. Combined with one of the deepest collections of forwards in the league, the Flyers should be a strong contender for the Eastern Conference title - assuming they get compotent goaltending from Ray Emery and Brian Boucher. He's a five-time All-Star, owns a Stanley Cup ring, and has won both the Hart Trophy as league MVP, and the Norris Trophy as the league's best defenseman. He's also been named as the dirtiest player in the NHL, though, that's probably not a good thing.
Obligatory YouTube Video
A collection of Chris Pronger goals.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-04-2009 @ 12:25PM
claytor said...
The premier defenseman outside of Lidstrom, this guy is going to make the season very long for Pittsburgh fans, not to mention Eastern conference teams that will have to deal with him multiple times a year.
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8-04-2009 @ 3:46PM
four50one said...
Again you prove you haven't been watching Ducks games.
Not only do you have Pronger and Niedermayer in almost exactly the opposite positions from where they should be.
You mistakenly say that Pronger HAS "intimidating size, brute strength and a cannon of a shot from the blue line"
That should read "Had".
Pronger was intimidating until the suspensions caught up with him and he became almost timid(at least for him), he says as much in recent interviews, particularly with regard to his plans for Crosby.
He ha snot used his Slapshot from the Blue line consistently since the Cup win. In the cup year he would fire off that bad boy, several times per powerplay, and multiple times per game at even strength. Recently you're lucky to see him try it once a game, he seems more inclined to pass D to D than to launch the bomb from the blueline.
MAYBE he will regain some of his drive in Philly, for the team and the fans sake I hope that's true.
But if he plays in Philly the way he has the last two years in Anaheim, fans will be frustrated more often than they are thrilled.
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8-04-2009 @ 4:44PM
claytor said...
Pretty solid point, one i overlooked as well. The league headhunting him for -ahem- headhunting did curb his game a bit.
Then again this might be the change he needed, he normally excels when reaching a new team, im sure because he wishes to assert himself. If this version of Pronger shows up then yes, have fun Eastern conf. shooters. If not? The Flyers will still have a decent crew from the blue to work with. Still the top second or third defender in the league regardless.
8-04-2009 @ 5:25PM
Josh said...
I agree with four50one. He and Neidermayer should be swapped (or, even better, put Neidermayer at 17, Pronger in Gonchar's spot, and Gonchar at Neidermayer's spot). Pronger is still a dominating defenceman in this league but his style of play has not translated well to post-lock out play. He's an incredibly talented enforcer and when the refs are turning a blind eye to his play in front of his own net (see Round 2 for an example), he can be the best player on the ice. But that doesn't happen very often anymore.
If I was choosing my ultimate fantasy team (in a video game, not like Fantasy Hockey. NHL 10, for example) and was choosing 6, maybe 7 defenceman, he would not be on it. He's just not that great anymore.
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8-08-2009 @ 2:19AM
wogiewus said...
You morons can not be for real. You just show your ignorance of the game. Pronger is still one of the top 5 defensmen if not top 2 in the league. Wake up morons and watch the game it has obviously passed you by.
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