Flyers name Pronger as captain
The Flyers have named defenseman Chris Pronger as captain, the team said.
Flyers name Pronger as captain
The Flyers have named defenseman Chris Pronger as captain, the team said.
Pronger becomes the 18th captain in team history. He previously served as captain in Anaheim and St. Louis and has been among the Flyers' alternate captains.
He replaces Mike Richards, who was traded to the Los Angeles Kings in the offseason.
Pronger, 36, has undergone several surgeries in the past year and just resumed skating last Friday. He has skated twice since.
Earlier in the week, general manager Paul Holmgren said he had several conversations with coach Peter Laviolette about the captaincy, but the team was not in a rush to make a decision.
However, it seemed that Pronger was the logical and obvious choice as soon as Richards was traded. Both Danny Briere and Kimmo Timonen had previously served as captains with other teams and will be the altnerate captains.
“With Chris’s experience and presence, we felt that he was the perfect player to take over as captain of the Philadelphia Flyers,” GM Paul Holmgren said in a statement. “Having Kimmo and Danny, both former captains in the NHL, serving as alternates, really gives us a strong, dedicated leadership group.
“All three of these players know what it takes to win and are excellent role models both on and off the ice.”
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Good Move.
Lets get serious. The clowns are gone.— Bob65S- No real surprise......I just hope Pronger can stay healthy and give us a few more years. He and Timmonen are solid anchors on defense.— Tar Heel 1
- Good choice.— jibberjabber
- No real surprise......I just hope Pronger can stay healthy and give us a few more games. He and Timmonen are solid anchors on defense.
fixed that for you.
— ekw555 - Worst kept secret in hockey!— Pelle31
- So Prongs is the captain for the next three years with Timmonen and Briere as the alternates. But what about choosing one of the younger players as an alternate? Maybe Giroux or Coburn? That way, unlike Richards, they will be groomed for the role when their time comes...— Ckott
- he'll celebrate with a beer pong game down in Ritchie's ol' Olde City digs. Bring ur drinking shoes. Seriously,like Bob said,clowns are gone,get serious.— chaliebygolly
Comment removed.- @ WillieHorton, BAD MOVE? are you serious? Every team Pronger has played for he's taken them deep into the playoffs. He's a winner and know the game inside and out. He was out of the line-up last year and the team fell apart with Richie and Carter leading....Start following the NBA and leave the NHL for real fans— westchesterhky
- If Chris Pronger is on a hockey team, he's the captain. Richards being captain over Pronger was one of the biggest problems with the team chemistry.— bobbyd24
- The good thing about Prongs is that he is not a part of the younger party crowd which has been inconsistent on the ice. He will hold everyone in the locker room accountable and will not put up with guys that are not hustling. GREAT MOVE! I think we will see a much harder working consistent team this year. Can't wait.— TedR
It's amazing how easy the most intimidating fans in hockey roll over. I've been a fan long enough to know when I'm being fed a line and when the team has a legit chance. 1995-98 chance, 2009-11 chance, everything inbetween and before upto sometime in 1980 - all filler. That's where we are again. The Pronger move was not about hockey, it's about politics in the NHL. Who makes the Hall, etc. The older fans know better and deserve better. We want a Cup. Guys in Flyers management that played in the 60s, 70s, 80s, they're tenured. Their failures are accepted, and they're legend grows. It is an ugly and ill conceived setup. Unique to any sports franchise world wide. Imagine if Rex Ryan lost to Dallas last Sunday. WOuld they then have a Rex Ryan night with black and white photos and standing ovations?
Put Lindros in the Hall. Fire Holmgren. Bring back Carter.- Did someone forget to lock your cell door in the psych ward again? Lindros in the Hall? Bwhahaha !! They don't have a special section for guys who can't stop looking down while they skate. — bobafett
- Chris Pronger was still, till injured last year, one of the top several defensemen in the league. When CP went down, so did the Flyers. I don't know that he does enough to make as much difference as it seemed he did last year, but when he is healthy, the team is, also much healthier! Perhaps it is nothing more than the very attitude he brings to the ice--which I suspect is a LOT.
Seems utterly appropriate he should get the C.— BEMiller - Not all the Clowns are gone...Hartnell and his 4.2 million cap hit remain and going nowhere for the next two years.— jaybakes
