Pronger improving, but not ready to skate
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flyers Report: Broad Street Bull
Pronger improving, but not ready to skate
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
It still seems like a longshot that Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger will ever play again, but at least there is a flicker of optimism.
Pronger, who missed most of last season with post-concussion syndrome, visited a doctor in Pittsburgh a few days ago and showed some improvement, general manager Paul Holmgren said on Thursday.
“He’s doing better, but not to the point where he can think about playing” right now, Holmgren said.
Asked if there was a chance Pronger could do some skating in the near future, Holmgren said, it's "too soon to consider that."
Pronger, a future Hall of Famer who will turn 38 on Oct. 10, had been living in a house he rented in Haddonfield. He and his family have moved to St. Louis, where his children are attending school.
If the season ever starts, the Flyers will get cap relief by placing Pronger on the LTIR list. If he retires, they will not get that relief, though that could change in the new CBA.
During the current lockout, Pronger ($7.2 million this season), Andrej Meszaros ($4.75 million), Matt Walker ($2 million) and Andreas Lilja ($700,000) will get paid by the Flyers because they were not cleared to play when the work stoppage went into effect.
Contact Sam Carchidi at scarchidi@phillynews.com or on Twitter @BroadStBull.
Life's not all bad for Matt Walker.....good for him— philly thug- Well with the way Proger feels about the game he will not give up on playing again until there is 100% no hope at all. With the lockout he gets is full pay and is covered by the FLYERS for his treatments and other medical related stuff. Not for nothing Chris was born to be a FLYER it is just as hame he wasn't on this team years ago! Get healthty Progs that is all that matters!!!!— srcdaddy1216
- Yep, Take Care Pronger, we won't soon forget the run in 2010-2011 playoffs! — kozykoz26
- Agreed. Don't need to read about him blowing his brains out in five years. It was a great ride, and I enjoyed your time here. Time to cut your body some slack— joeibt
- Gotta know when to "fold'em".— dogman5
- Gotta know when to hold'em to.— neddyflanders
- Know when to walk away.— Sidewinder7
- I really hope Chris Pronger retires. It's not worth it for him to try to make a comeback. If he can't even be cleared to skate now, there is no way he will be in a position to play and take a hit. Better to recover now. We understand.
- If he "officially" retires, his salary will count against the Flyers cap every year until his contract is done. As long as he's injured but unretired, they'll get relief from his cap hit once the season starts. (Pending whatever happens with the new CBA.) So, Homer has to pay lip service to that. The Flyers had him involved in front office stuff before the draft to let him see if he'd like working in that area, (Like Lappy when he was finishing off the last year of his contract consulting and coaching the kids.) No way Prongs is ever going to play again.— wmichael
- Pronger is not playing hockey again there is no chance...he will stay injured with these vaque updates till his contract expires......the last thing the FLYERS want is Pronger coming off IR— flyers1000
- If they come back for a shortened season, they'll keep him on LTIR as long as they're in contention, bring him back for the last 10 games and pray he survives the playoffs.— Pelti
- Keep him on LTR for salary relief, and tell him in private NO WAY he is comign back. Thanks for the amazing season where you took us on your back to the Cup Final Game 6. Come back later as a coach, but we don't need to see him get hurt again. Take care of yourself and family.— MichaelZoe
- If anyone gives clearance here down the road they should be shot....Its only hockey...not life or death. I hope he never plays again, there are far more important things than chasing a puck around!— bbrady25
- hang 'em up prong...check out some former nfl players if you even start to think about playing...you had a great career,made a lot of money,so enjoy life post hockey...good luck...— jabac
