Flyers, Pronger agree to multi-year extension

by Bob Herpen
The Phanatic Magazine

The Philadelphia Flyers signed defenseman Chris Pronger to a multi-year contract extension on Tuesday.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but multiple sources report that the pact is worth $35 million over seven years.

"We are pleased to have one of the NHL's premier defensemen in our organization and under contract long term," said Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren.

The Flyers acquired Pronger from the Anaheim Ducks on June 26 with prospect Ryan Dingle for forward Joffrey Lupul, defenseman Luca Sbisa, two first-round draft picks and a conditional third-round selection.

Pronger, the second overall pick of the 1993 draft by the Hartford Whalers, played in all 82 games last season with the Ducks and scored 11 goals and added 37 assists.

Over his 15 seasons in the NHL, Pronger has appeared in 1,022 games and compiled 142 goals and 464 assists. He is a career plus-153 and has 1,457 penalty minutes. In addition to Anaheim, who he won a Stanley Cup with in 2007, he has also played for Edmonton, St. Louis and Hartford.

"I am very excited to be able to retire a Philadelphia Flyer and am looking forward to many years with the Flyers logo on my chest," Pronger said.

The native of Ontario took home the Norris Trophy as top defenseman and the Hart Trophy as the league's most valuable player for the 1999-2000 season and is a five-time All-Star.