Chris Pronger

Lore & Background

Originally selected second overall by the Hartford Whalers in the 1993 NHL entry draft, Pronger played for Hartford, the St. Louis Blues, Edmonton Oilers and Anaheim Ducks before being traded to the Philadelphia Flyers before the 2009–10 season. He was captain of the Blues and Flyers, and served as an alternate captain for the Ducks. He appeared in the Stanley Cup Final with three different teams (Edmonton, Anaheim and Philadelphia), winning the Cup with the Ducks in 2007.

Pronger won the Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player for the 1999–2000 season, becoming the first defenceman to win the award since Bobby Orr in 1971–72. A mainstay on Canada national team, Pronger won Olympic gold medals at the 2002 and 2010 Winter Olympics and is a member of the Triple Gold Club. In 2017, he was named one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' in history. Pronger's playing career ended in November 2011 due to post-concussion syndrome related to three separate hits suffered during his career; he also has vision impairment due to being hit in the eye(s) by the blade of another player's stick.

In October 2014, Pronger signed a contract with the NHL to assist its Player Safety Division. Pronger was suspended eight times during his NHL career. The St. Louis Blues retired Pronger's No. 44 on January 17, 2022.

Reader's Guide

Pronger was born in Dryden, Ontario, to Jim and Eila Pronger, an immigrant from Pori, Finland. Pronger is Finnish Canadian. Before entering the junior ranks in Ontario, he grew up playing minor hockey in his hometown. As a 15-year-old, he was identified through the Ontario U-17 program and signed with the Stratford Cullitons Jr. B (OHA) club for the 1990–91 season.

One of his defence partners in Stratford was future NHLer Greg de Vries. In May 1991, Pronger indicated he was going to join his older brother Sean at Bowling Green State University to play in the NCAA instead of opting to play in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Regardless of his pre-draft indications, the Peterborough Petes selected Pronger in the sixth round in the OHL Priority Selection. Contrary to his initial intentions, Pronger reported to Peterborough.

After two stand-out seasons with Peterborough, and because of being highly regarded for his rare combination of imposing size, speed, offensive skill (particularly on the power play) and physicality, Pronger was selected second overall by the Hartford Whalers in the 1993 NHL entry draft, behind Alexandre Daigle. Pronger made his debut in the 1993–94 NHL season, playing 81 games for the Whalers and earning a spot on the NHL All-Rookie Team. On July 27, 1995, he was traded to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for star forward Brendan Shanahan.

In his third season with St. Louis and first as team captain, Pronger was again named to the All-Star team. In 1999–2000, Pronger recorded a career-high 62 points and a +52 rating. His efforts won him the Norris and Hart trophies at the end of the season. Following the 2004–05 NHL lockout and the imposition of an NHL salary cap, the Blues traded Pronger to the Edmonton Oilers.

On July 3, 2006, Pronger was traded to the Anaheim Ducks. In 2007, Pronger played an important role for the Ducks run as they won the Stanley Cup. On September 28, 2007, Pronger was named captain of the Ducks, replacing Scott Niedermayer. Although Niedermayer returned to the lineup later in the season, Pronger remained captain until the start of next season, when Niedermayer was renamed captain. Pronger retained a role as alternate captain.