Flyers introduce Chris Pronger

He came close in Edmonton, leading the Oilers to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2006. He delivered in Anaheim, carrying the Ducks to the title in 2007.

Now the 6-foot-6, 220-pound defenseman is hoping to impart his wisdom - and his Hall-of-Fame credentials - to a young and talented Flyers team, one that could have used some veteran leadership last season.

"It's just showing them what I've learned and the experiences I've gone through," he said at a news conference yesterday at the Skate Zone in Voorhees. "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 was acquired in a blockbuster trade in which the Flyers sent Joffrey Lupul, Luca Sbisa, two No. 1 draft picks, and a conditional third-round pick to Anaheim at the NHL draft.

Wearing, appropriately enough, an orange tie, the sandy-haired, gap-toothed Pronger was loose and relaxed as he kidded about his new role and his past. He said he felt 24 ("Call me Jack Bauer," he cracked) instead of his real age - he'll turn 35 on Oct. 10 - and that he thought he could play until he was 40.

"I would love to finish my career here; I probably could," he said. "I don't know if I want to play as long as [47-year-old] Chris Chelios, but this is 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 he earns $6.25 million this season.

Pronger's agent, Pat Morris, and Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren have had talks about an extension.

It may not be easy.

"In his history, he's never become an unrestricted free agent. It can exist this time around, but I think Philadelphia gave up too much to let that happen," said Morris, who also represents the Flyers' Mike Richards.

"It's something both sides will figure out," Pronger said. "It'd be nice to finish my career here. I don't think we want to move along. It seems like a perfect fit for me - and the style I play - and my family."

Some of the veterans the Flyers have added in the past - Dale Hawerchuk, Paul Coffey, Adam Oates, and Peter Forsberg, for instance - didn't push the club to the top.

"My job," Pronger said, "is to break the trend."

Pronger, who called himself his "own worst critic," will be trying to lead the Flyers to their first Stanley Cup since 1975.

"I think I'm probably a big piece, but I don't think I'm the key piece," Pronger said. "The key piece is the group coming together at the right time and having that chemistry. We probably proved that last year in Anaheim. Teams had us written off at the trade deadline, and we started playing better and started coming together and arguably should have beaten Detroit" in the Western Conference finals.

By helping the Ducks win the Cup in 2007, Pronger said he understands "the desire and passion it takes to win. You've got to have 20, 25 guys buy into a system and what the coach is selling and go out and execute. You can't have guys straying off on their own."

Because of his physical style of play, Pronger acknowledged he has been booed in almost every opposing city in which he has played.

"If I'm getting booed in the East Coast cities now, then I'm doing my job," he said.

Pronger is reunited with Holmgren, who was his first coach when he broke into the NHL with Hartford in 1993.

"We certainly made ourselves a harder team to play against with the addition of Chris . . . and I think we have enough guys who can score goals," said Holmgren, who said the Flyers may use their farm system, not free agency, to fill some of their remaining offensive holes.

Breakaways. If the Flyers do add a free-agent forward, Brendan Shanahan, 40, is believed to be at the top of their wish list. . . . Told that new teammate Braydon Coburn had a poster of Pronger on his wall when he was growing up, Pronger said: "So he's the one." . . . Pronger said he chose to wear No. 20 with the Flyers because his dad wore it when he played senior hockey. Asked if he got his hockey skills from his dad, he replied: "I hope not. You obviously haven't seen him play. I took his number, not his game." . . . Season ticket sales have increased since the addition of Pronger, the Flyers said.

Contact staff writer Sam Carchidi at 215-854-5181 or scarchidi@phillynews.com.