Flyers Notes: Pronger's NHL job raises questions on conflicts

Even though Chris Pronger is still on the Flyers' payroll, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said he wouldn't have a problem if the onetime defensive standout worked in the league's player-safety department.

And that's apparently what happened Thursday night, when Pronger was hired, according to TSN, which also reported that he remained on the Flyers' long-term injured list, meaning the team would still get $4.9 million in salary-cap relief. The Flyers owe Pronger a total of $5.15 million for the final three years of his contract.

Would the Flyers still owe Pronger that money if he took the NHL job?

Also left unsaid: If Pronger, who turns 40 on Friday, is still being paid by the Flyers, how can he rule on league disciplinary issues without its being a conflict of interest? How, for instance, could Pronger make suspension decisions that affect the Flyers or their opponents?

Pronger's career has ended because of a concussion he suffered in 2011.

Flyers general manager Ron Hextall said he couldn't comment on cap ramifications until the NHL made an official announcement regarding Pronger.

Hextall did comment on some aspects of the situation. "We have no interest in stopping Chris from getting on with his life," he said.

Even if the Flyers had to absorb his $4.9 million cap hit?

"That's a different story," Hextall said. "I'm here to look out for the best interests of the organization."

Bettman made his comments about Pronger to reporters at the Los Angeles Kings' banner-raising ceremony late Wednesday night.

If Pronger retired to take the NHL job and the league did not permit the Flyers to get cap relief, the club would be in a major bind - and it would handcuff them for three years.

If it affects their salary cap if Pronger takes the job, "I'll call him up tomorrow and tell him not to do that," coach Craig Berube said with a smile before Thursday's game against New Jersey.

Bettman, speaking to reporters in Los Angeles, called Pronger's case "unique."

"There are salary-cap reasons why he couldn't officially retire, but . . . if in fact we go that route [and hire him], I'm not so sure that presents any problem at all to deal with," Bettman said. "He's done playing. He gets paid no matter what from the Flyers. He doesn't owe them anything."

Hextall was asked if he was disappointed that career-ending injuries, such as Pronger's, weren't addressed in the last collective bargaining agreement.

"It would have certainly been best for us, of course," he said. "You'd like to have it off your cap, but it's one of those things we have no control over."

The flags at the Wells Fargo Center have been at half-staff in honor of broadcasting icon Bill Campbell, who died Monday at 91. . . . Ed Snider, one of the franchise's founders, on Comcast's Meet the Flyers show: "I think we're going to surprise a lot of the so-called experts." . . . After Sunday's tryouts, the Ice Team has 10 men and four women - the same mixture as last year, the Flyers said.