Pronger's long road back
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flyers Report: Broad Street Bull
Pronger's long road back
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
All the moves the Flyers have made during a dizzying off-season probably won't mean much if future Hall-of-Famer Chris Pronger doesn't return to form.
And it's going to take a while for that to happen.
Pronger, in an interview Wednesday on TSN radio, said he didn't know if he would be ready for the start of training camp on Sept. 16. Pronger is recovering from back surgery, and he is limited to walking on a treadmill and light bike riding.
The 36-year-old defenseman said he was at least three weeks away from training hard, adding that his doctor wanted his back to "scar up and then fully heal" before he did any strenuous workouts.
"I would say I'm quite a bit behind where I would be, training-wise, and workout-wise," he said on TSN. "Whether I'm at camp or not, I don't know that yet. It's still early to tell. I would guess I would not be starting camp, just from the mere fact that I haven't been able to work out at all yet. I'm skinny to begin with, and now I'm looking really skinny."
Doctors expect Pronger to make a full recovery.
Pronger, who will turn 37 on Oct. 10, played just 50 games last season, one in which he had three different surgeries. It was his lowest games total since 2002-03.
After being swept by Boston in the second round of the playoffs, the Flyers made a major overhaul. Ten players who were with the team at the end of last season, including captain Mike Richards and high-scoring Jeff Carter, are gone.
"I think the way we exited in the playoffs, and with our owner coming out and asking to get a goalie, that puts a little bit of cash restraints on your team with respect to the salary cap," said Pronger, who is expected to be named the Flyers' captain. "Moves have to be made. In order to free up money, you have to give up good players, and we obviously did that with both Mike and Jeff.
"But in return for those guys," Pronger added, "we got a lot younger, a little bigger up front and a little bit more gritty _ and I think that was something we were missing in the playoffs."
Pronger also praised the addition of goalie Ilya Bryzgalov; the two were teammates in Anaheim.
"I've seen what he can do when he's hot, and he's definitely a great goalie," Pronger said.
* * * *
Follow Sam Carchidi on Twitter at BroadStBull.
* * * *
Get exclusive videos and analysis in our new app for iPhone and Android. Download it here.
unfortunately LA DOES not have a goal tending problem or I would say JVR and Bob for Doughty— debbyt- JVR ? Untouchable!— Paul1954
- and you base this on what, one good playoff series? — seaonasdad
- our offense has already taken a hit this offseason, the last thing their gonna do is trade our new top forward for another defensive piece to the lineup. — JoeB603
- no Doughty untouchable... — swany65
- Paul1954-Seriously?? Let's say you can get Doughty straight up for JVR-you wouldn't do that in a heartbeat???— debbyt
- The trouble is, Dean Lombardi's not nuts. making cap room is an issue, though. Doughty wants to get paid. — JSaq
- I think JVR is going to be a beast in a couple years! Wait until he is 25! No I would not trade him right now.— edith bunker
- JSaq-True, just hypothetically speaking though if it could be done it's a no-brainer. pronger is really worrying me and Doughty is going to be a top tier d-man for many years so I would clear whatever I had to clear to get him. We were seriuosly considering it for Stamkos a couple of weeks ago and Doughty is right up there with him ,imo . But seriously, this Pronger thing is a serious problem esp. since he is going to be the captain and with so much turnover and young guys and the wild card that is Jagr, I'm worried.— debbyt
- on Bryz......what about when he is NOT "hot"??— beefbre
- my thoughts exactly. hope when he's not hot he's still very good. prongs needs to get healthy then worry about when to play.. go flyers...
- Curmudgeon and cantankerous Prongs speaks.— Romus
- Bring back Luca.— Romus
- The Flyers need a healthy Pronger back. Isn't the Stamkos situation strange that NO team has given him an offer sheet yet? Collusion?— The Marco Islander
