June 29, 2015
It has been a busy week for Chris Pronger. First, he got traded to the Arizona Coyotes despite not having played in a game since 2011 and the fact that he currently works in the NHL Department of Player Safety. Even though his contract is still a part of the league, Pronger will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
"It's very humbling to be included alongside the esteemed group of players and builders in the Hockey Hall of Fame's class of 2015," Pronger in the release issued by the Hall. "It's very exciting to think about becoming an Honoured Member. It's certainly something I didn't expect while playing."
Pronger was a major reason the Flyers advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2010. Heading in with him are Sergei Fedorov, Niklas Lidstrom, Bill Hay, Peter Karmanos Jr., Phil Housley, and Angela Ruggiero.
“We would like to congratulate Chris on his very deserving election into the Hockey Hall of Fame,” Flyers president Paul Holmgren said in a statement today. “Prior to his career being cut short by injury, he was one of the greatest defensemen of all time. Chris played the game with a skill and tenacity that was second to none. We are extremely proud of Chris and his accomplishments and wish him and his wife Lauren, along with their wonderful children, Jack, George and Lila, all the best. Well done!”
Coyotes GM Don Maloney had a funny line on Pronger’s upcoming enshrinement:
Coyotes GM Don Maloney on acquiring Chris Pronger's contract: "Part of the deal was my insisting he goes into the Hall Of Fame as a Coyote."
— Craig Morgan (@craigsmorgan) June 27, 2015
It’s not all good news for former Flyer greats, though. Eric Lindros was denied entry to the Hall for the sixth consecutive year. The good folks at Broad Street Hockey aren't happy, and they sent out a couple of tweets in support of The Big E:
Eric Lindros scored 1.138 PPG in his NHL career. 19th all time. Him and Kent Nilsson are the only guys in the top 20 without HoF induction.
— Broad Street Hockey (@BroadStHockey) June 29, 2015
Eric Lindros and Jose Theodore are the only inactive Hart Trophy winners who are *not* in the Hall of Fame.
— Broad Street Hockey (@BroadStHockey) June 29, 2015
Follow Rich on Twitter: @rich_hofmann
