Should the Flyers extend Chris Pronger's contract?
Pronger: Love to retire a Flyer
President and Chief Operating Officer of Comcast-Spectacor Peter Luukko, left, Paul Holmgren, Philadelphia Flyers' General Manager, center, left, and Comcast-Spectacor Chairman Ed Snider, right, present Chris Pronger, the team's new defenseman, with a jersey at the end of a press conference where he was introduced, Monday, July 6, 2009, in Voorhees, N.J.
Alyssa Cwanger / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Daily News
Defenseman Chris Pronger was acquired to be the Man Who Is Going to End the Flyers' Stanley Cup Drought.
Pronger has been in similar positions - viewed as the missing piece - when he arrived in Edmonton and Anaheim.
He delivered in both places, leading Edmonton to the Stanley Cup Finals and sparking Anaheim to a championship.
Now he's hoping to impart his wisdom on a young and talented Flyers team, one that could have used some veteran leadership last season.
"It's just showing them what I learned and the experiences I've gone through," he said at a news conference today. "I've gone through a lot of ups and downs, and if any of those situations can help them out, it's an added bonus."
Pronger, acquired in a blockbuster trade with Anaheim at the NHL draft, was introduced at a news conference at the Skate Zone in Voorhees.
Wearing, appropriately enough, an orange tie, Pronger was loose and relaxed as he kidded about his new role and his past.
Pronger, who will turn 35 on Oct. 10, said he thought he could play until he was 40 and that "I would love to finish my career here; I probably could. I don't know if I want to play as long as [47-year-old] Chris Chelios, but this probably the best I've felt in a real long time. . . . I think all the work I've put in over the last 10 years is starting to pay off."
But there are no guarantees he will be with the Flyers beyond this season. He is in the final year of his contract, and he can become an unrestricted free agent after this season.
Pronger's agent, Pat Morris, and general manager Paul Holmgren have had talks about an extension. Morris said he would like to get one done but hinted that it won't be easy.
Contact staff writer Sam Carchidi at 215-854-5181 or scarchidi@phillynews.com.
