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
It's tough chasing from behind when you're on the road. It's a matter of us bearing down and trying to play a more disciplined game.
You could kind of see after that first game how important he was. Taking the focus off of us and putting it on him, he awakened the team and let us go about our job. It'll be great having him there from a leadership perspective.
It hurts to walk but it feels pretty good to skate.
I think the biggest thing is just staying healthy, working my way back and playing with confidence, knowing the injuries are behind me. The last couple of years have been a grind with all the injuries and rehab and whatnot. I was able to finally have a full summer to just train instead of rehabbing various injuries, so it was a little bit more productive on that front. It was a lot more fun than rehabbing.
It looked like a penalty to me. They were calling it all game.
It looked like a penalty to me. They'd been calling that all game and I don't know why they picked that instance not to call it.
It was nice to get it off the back. We played a very solid game from start to finish.
I think with the way everything went down last year and how we finished the season in the playoffs, it was definitely disappointing for everyone, not just the goalies. I think Ozzie went home with the mindset of coming back and proving himself. And I think Brent had the same idea. I think everybody here is looking for big things from both of those guys.
I don't think it's become that big of an issue.
I have played in the West for 14 years. I played against Dustin Byfuglien a lot. So it's not like I've been out East for my whole career and never played against the guy. That may have been blown out of proportion, I think.
I think playing the way I played, and knowing the game the way I know it, I think I'm going to have a better idea as to what the mindset of each player was.
It was pretty disappointing, obviously. To come out with two periods, in probably our most important game of the season, the way we did ... It's disappointing and disheartening to see the position we've left ourselves in. At the same time, we need to dust ourselves off and come out and play a good game against one of the best teams in the league in Detroit.
The last few games against them, we've played a lot better and have been able to match their intensity. It's up to us to answer the bell for 60 minutes.
You have to close quickly, you have to eliminate time and space and you have to try to deny them the puck. When you're playing with it, it forces them out of their rhythm and forces them to play defense, which they obviously don't want to do.