Chris Pronger
Chris Pronger
Christopher Robert Prongeris a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently under contract with the Arizona Coyotes of the National Hockey League. He has not played since November 2011 due to post-concussion syndrome related to three separate hits suffered during his career; he also suffers from vision impairment due to being hit in the eyeby the blade of another player's stick. Though not officially retired, he is not expected to play again. In October 2014, Pronger signed a contract...
ProfessionHockey Player
Date of Birth10 October 1974
CityDryden, Canada
He was always very unassuming, a regular guy, but his approach to training and preparation was amazing. He was really a consummate professional, a great leader.
I did a video but I don't know, did they lose it? I think they lost it.
We gave them a lot of momentum early. It's tough to climb out of that hole.
We knew exactly what we were coming up against. They may have lost 13 in a row, but they were in every one of those games.
We fell behind 2-0 to those guys and played right into their hands.
You can look at a number of things with Al. Obviously the accolades -- the Conn Smythe, the Norris Trophy, the Stanley Cup, renowned as the hardest shot in the league. But the leadership in the room. The way he approached the game. The way he carried himself. That was the biggest thing.
The good thing about coming back and being in games right away is it kind of takes the focus off that.
Aside from our special teams, we played pretty well. That's been the story of our season so far.
We have a chance to take a stranglehold on the series.
What happened probably was wrong and we have to address it so it doesn't happen in the future but we can't go back and change time.
The so-called splinter faction in the union that is going a different direction has been drummed up by a lot of media members and people hoping a deal gets done. I can unequivocally say everyone is on board and understands the issues better.
They pose a lot of problems but at the same time, we know how to play them. We need to get back to Canadian hockey and just chip pucks in, finish our checks, create our turnovers and get on the attack.
They're a team you can't fall behind on. They play that defensive system. If you fall behind early it's an uphill battle and you exert a lot of energy trying to claw your way back.
Al did such a great job as captain last year. I need to focus and concentrate on helping this team win hockey games. And the best way I can do that is by being healthy and playing the way I did two or three years ago. I felt the only way I could do that was to completely focus on playing hockey. Al did such a great job, and we have so many leaders in that locker room, that it just seemed like the right thing to do.