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:
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:
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