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Injured Chris Pronger: “The year from hell is over”

Chris Pronger

Buffalo Sabres’ Philadelphia Flyers’ during the first period in Game 6 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoffs hockey series, in Buffalo, N.Y., Sunday, April 24, 2011. (AP Photo/David Duprey)

David Duprey

Chris Pronger’s season didn’t go exactly how he had it planned out. The Flyers did win the Atlantic Division title, but they bowed out meekly in the playoffs in the second round to the Bruins. Taking that and all the injury problems Pronger had to put up with and it makes for one pretty grumpy defenseman.

With the Flyers packing up today for the summer and a long offseason of wondering what the future holds for them, Pronger was a primary focus of attention after he was forced to sit out the final three games of the series against Boston with what’s believed to be a back injury. For the 36 year-old defenseman, having so many different ailments nag at him is a point of personal contention.

CSN Philly’s Tim Panaccio caught up with Pronger and he was straight-forward in talking about his bumps, bruises, and breaks that helped ruin both his and the Flyers season.

“The year from hell is over,” the Flyers defenseman said. “I started the season with a surgery and I’m going to end it probably, who knows, whether I get another one or not.”

Pronger underwent three surgeries, played just 50 regular season games, three playoff games, and could be facing a fourth surgery for a possible herniated disk, which shot pain down his leg.

“From an injury standpoint, it’s been the toughest year,” he said. “You start to get back and start feeling good, and another one crops up.

“Hopefully, a good summer of training and rehab on the various issues that I’ve had this year will rectify all those, and I can come into camp next year in a lot better shape, a lot healthier, and able to hopefully play 82 games next year.”


When next season begins Pronger will turn 37 and the Flyers had better hope that whatever work he gets done in the offseason pays off and he can play 82 games and the playoffs. After all, Pronger’s contract only goes through until the 2016-2017 season so making sure he can stay healthy well into his 40s would be a good thing.

Pronger’s situation is one the Flyers absolutely must allow him to get corrected. If he needs to get operated on, so be it, but without Pronger the Flyers are stuck in a bad way. Pronger missed the end of the regular season and parts of the Sabres playoff series thanks to a broken hand. Now with his back acting up, the team can’t help but be nervous even if Pronger isn’t.

More from Panaccio and Pronger about the concerns over his back.

“I don’t know if it’s to that point or not,” Pronger said of possible surgery. “I’ve got to see what the doctors see, what their recommendations are, and then weigh the pros and cons to whatever it is that we decide to do, and go from there.”

While the Flyers will have roster questions to get answered in the offseason, the worries for Pronger’s health are there as well and for good reason. How things go for him will point towards how the Flyers handle personnel since an injury nagged Pronger means having to keep the defense overstocked on the roster. There’s no doubting Pronger’s ability to play through pain and desire to get in the lineup at all times, but a Pronger at half-speed is no good to the team.