Pronger improving, but not ready to skate
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Pronger improving, but not ready to skate
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
It still seems like a longshot that Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger will ever play again, but at least there is a flicker of optimism.
Pronger, who missed most of last season with post-concussion syndrome, visited a doctor in Pittsburgh a few days ago and showed some improvement, general manager Paul Holmgren said on Thursday.
“He’s doing better, but not to the point where he can think about playing” right now, Holmgren said.
Asked if there was a chance Pronger could do some skating in the near future, Holmgren said, it's "too soon to consider that."
Pronger, a future Hall of Famer who will turn 38 on Oct. 10, had been living in a house he rented in Haddonfield. He and his family have moved to St. Louis, where his children are attending school.
If the season ever starts, the Flyers will get cap relief by placing Pronger on the LTIR list. If he retires, they will not get that relief, though that could change in the new CBA.
During the current lockout, Pronger ($7.2 million this season), Andrej Meszaros ($4.75 million), Matt Walker ($2 million) and Andreas Lilja ($700,000) will get paid by the Flyers because they were not cleared to play when the work stoppage went into effect.
Contact Sam Carchidi at scarchidi@phillynews.com or on Twitter @BroadStBull.
Comments (30)
Life's not all bad for Matt Walker.....good for him— philly thug- Well with the way Proger feels about the game he will not give up on playing again until there is 100% no hope at all. With the lockout he gets is full pay and is covered by the FLYERS for his treatments and other medical related stuff. Not for nothing Chris was born to be a FLYER it is just as hame he wasn't on this team years ago! Get healthty Progs that is all that matters!!!!— srcdaddy1216
- Yep, Take Care Pronger, we won't soon forget the run in 2010-2011 playoffs! — kozykoz26
- Agreed. Don't need to read about him blowing his brains out in five years. It was a great ride, and I enjoyed your time here. Time to cut your body some slack— joeibt
- Gotta know when to "fold'em".— dogman5
- Gotta know when to hold'em to.— neddyflanders
- Know when to walk away.— Sidewinder7
- I really hope Chris Pronger retires. It's not worth it for him to try to make a comeback. If he can't even be cleared to skate now, there is no way he will be in a position to play and take a hit. Better to recover now. We understand.
- If he "officially" retires, his salary will count against the Flyers cap every year until his contract is done. As long as he's injured but unretired, they'll get relief from his cap hit once the season starts. (Pending whatever happens with the new CBA.) So, Homer has to pay lip service to that. The Flyers had him involved in front office stuff before the draft to let him see if he'd like working in that area, (Like Lappy when he was finishing off the last year of his contract consulting and coaching the kids.) No way Prongs is ever going to play again.— wmichael
- Pronger is not playing hockey again there is no chance...he will stay injured with these vaque updates till his contract expires......the last thing the FLYERS want is Pronger coming off IR— flyers1000
- If they come back for a shortened season, they'll keep him on LTIR as long as they're in contention, bring him back for the last 10 games and pray he survives the playoffs.— Pelti
- Keep him on LTR for salary relief, and tell him in private NO WAY he is comign back. Thanks for the amazing season where you took us on your back to the Cup Final Game 6. Come back later as a coach, but we don't need to see him get hurt again. Take care of yourself and family.— MichaelZoe
- If anyone gives clearance here down the road they should be shot....Its only hockey...not life or death. I hope he never plays again, there are far more important things than chasing a puck around!— bbrady25
- hang 'em up prong...check out some former nfl players if you even start to think about playing...you had a great career,made a lot of money,so enjoy life post hockey...good luck...— jabac
- If he returned, it would be a great story for all concerned except for the internet doctors on this website who have the ability to diagnose and prescribe from in front of their computer screen. Do you know-it-alls sense how ridiculous you sound?— Claudio Vernight
- If they are paying Pronger that much he should at least sell beer & hot dogs at one of the concession stands........— bigdaddyG
- If coming back would guarantee a Stanley Cup for the Flyers, I would still hope that Chris Pronger stays retired. If the last concussion lasted almost a year, another one could prove deadly. He could end up with a brain disorder that shortens or ruins his life. Hockey is just a game and us fans would rather see a live hero than a dead one. If they are going to win, it will be with the young and the healthy, not by putting Chris Pronger's life or health on the line. That isn't fair and Philly was always about fair. This guy did his job and gave 110% every minute out there.— gotedge
- i would love to see him back, with Crosbys long absence he seems to be doing fine now. He was going through the same thing as Pronger for a long time. There is a huge age difference, yes, and with the amount of years Crosby has left and have already gone through with what Pronger is going through, I really hope he can make it through his career for the sake of me having compassion for another human being. The only thing I fear about Pronger comming back though, is probably the same reason many other Flyers fans who been around for a while... and thats the touching story of Eric Lindros fighting back his concussion to return to the playoffs, score some points, then getting knocked out cold 2 games in which ended his career as a Flyer. I hope to see Pronger playing again. But I really dont want to see him or anyone ever leave the team/game like that again. Good luck Pronger, and I wish the best or you either way.
- Talk with Keith Primeau— shmoo
- Philly Thug, I was thinking the same thing. If I was him, I'd be kicking back....— NYFlyersFan
- His health isn't worth it. He is a future hall of famer and has done all he needs to do. The Flyers can use him as a coach somewhere down the line if he chooses to do that. Time to think about himself and his family.— d.w.d.
- Get back on the ice you slacker.— rockinrob
- Please don't come back. You had a great career. Enjoy this time with your family. Share your knowledge of the game w/ the youth in your community. You will be rewarded.— pnolan
- No reason to do it at 38.— Nitroglycerin
- Don't take the chance. Get healthy. We still remember you brought us a Stanley Cup here in Anaheim in 2007.— barryhurd2000
- F.....g Groundhog Day. Chris would be the first one to agree.— NYPHILLYPHAN
- Not trying to minimize his concusion, but I just don't know... Since he got the concussion from getting hit in the eye, is it different than from banging your head? I mean, you crack your head and get a concussion there is brain damage. The eye getting his releases a chemical and causes a concussion. Does anyone know if they are the same? If he were to get cleared from this, would it be as bad if he was hit in the head as it would be if he hit the ice with his head?— macd41144
- Do I want to see these guys suffer permanent disabilities after their careers are over - of course not. BUT playing this game and making 7.2 mil a year comes with risks! Get better and get on the ice!!
Bet he would be more apt to come back if it was the NFL and didn't have a guaranteed contract.— DG3 - Good Luck!— cooperhawk
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Broad Street Bull is the Inquirer's blog covering the Philadelphia Flyers and the National Hockey League.
Reach Sam at scarchidi@phillynews.com.
Sam Carchidi
Inquirer Staff Writer
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