Flyers sign Pronger to 7-year extension
That didn't take long.
In a stunningly quick development, the Flyers signed defenseman Chris Pronger to a seven-year contract extension for $34.7 million yesterday, a club source said.
There is a no-trade clause in the contract, which does not include any incentives, the source said.
During his introductory news conference Monday, Pronger, who will turn 35 on Oct. 10, said he hoped to end his career as a Flyer.
This virtually ensures that will happen.
"We are pleased to have one of the NHL's premier defensemen in our organization and under contract long term," general manager Paul Holmgren said in a statement. "When we made the trade for Chris, it was our intention to get him signed to an extension, and we are glad we could come to this agreement today."
In a draft-day deal, the Flyers acquired the towering 6-foot-6 Pronger and minor-league forward Ryan Dingle from Anaheim for Joffrey Lupul, Luca Sbisa, two No. 1 draft picks, and a conditional third-round pick.
Pronger, a five-time all-star who will be 42 when the contract expires, said he was "very excited to be able to retire a Philadelphia Flyer, and I am looking forward to many years with the Flyers logo on my chest. I think both parties wanted to get it handled in a timely fashion in order to move on and get things set up for future years down the line so that the Flyers could make moves, either this year or next year, and know they had me in place."
Pronger is in the final year of a deal that will pay him $6.25 million in 2009-10. After this season, his salary-cap hit will be a more-manageable $4.96 million per year.
"Both sides worked hard on it and were anxious to get it done," Holmgren said of the deal.
In 2008-09, Pronger recorded 48 points (11 goals, 37 assists) and 88 penalty minutes in 82 regular-season games. He led the Ducks in average time on ice (26 minutes, 56 seconds - second in the NHL). He also posted 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in 13 playoff games.
When the Flyers acquired Pronger, Comcast-Spectacor president Peter Luukko said, one of the first things he said was "that he'd like to finish his career in Philadelphia."
Because of that, Luukko said, he was confident the club would sign the defenseman to a long-term deal.
Pronger spent some time yesterday giving tips to young players from the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation. Afterward, Pronger was presented with a DVD set of the seventh season of the TV hit 24.
At Monday's news conference, Pronger said he felt like he was 24. "Call me Jack Bauer," he said, referring to the lead character in the series.
Contact staff writer Sam Carchidi at 215-854-5181 or scarchidi@phillynews.com.
