Chris Pronger just may be the best player we have ever seen, that people love to hate. Whether it’s the man’s elitist attitude in dealing with some of his fellow players or the media, his often on the edge, so called “dirty play”, on the ice, or the mind games that come off as childish like this years stolen hockey pucks story, fans across the country love to hate Chris Pronger. Don’t get me wrong, I have grown to dislike the guy as a person myself, obviously starting with him abandoning the Edmonton Oilers like he did in 2006. For the record his latest actions with these hockey pucks also bugged me, I just figure it was pouting at the time and I don’t need to see that out of a grown man, especially one that is considered a leader on whatever team he happens to be on like Pronger is.
Oddly enough however I’m not here to rip Chris Pronger. With all his faults, and the mile long list of reasons we all have for not liking the guy, if your honest with yourself I believe you have to admit he is one hell of a hockey player. Chris Pronger is a difference maker and his track record proves it. When the Edmonton Oilers went to the Stanley Cup finals in 05-06 Pronger lead the team in scoring with 21 points in 24 games and was +10. He was the only defencemen in the top 10 for playoff points and was only beaten out by Eric Staal and Matt Cullen in total points scored. His play in front of his own net was as mean and nasty as Chris Pronger can be, but what blew me away, was his calm. A calm that transcended the entire team and breathed confidence into his teammates both on and off the ice. The same calm I saw Pronger bring to the Ducks when they won the Stanley Cup in 2007 and the same calm I see from Pronger when he is on the ice for the Flyers in this years Finals against the Hawks. For ever team he has pulled the sweater on for he eats up 30 minutes of hockey night in and night out and makes a difference every time in all areas of the ice. His play in his own end of the ice is second to none and that includes the fact he is considered a “dirty” player by many. The fact Pronger might hurt you is why he is as good as he is, that’s a fact, like it or not. Hockey is a game of intimidation, and Pronger plays that game as good as anyone I have ever seen. He may be one of the best ever at it to be frank. He gets in opposing players heads and once he has accomplished that, he has won. The shining example from this year is the fact that Chicago’s top line of Kane, Toews, and Byfuglien has completely disappeared so far through 4 games in the series. The war of Pronger VS Big Buff has been horribly lopsided in Prongers favour, Kane has been stapled with huge hits delivered by none other then Chris Pronger, and Toews rib cage must be very bruised at this point form the constant cross checks being rained down by the human rake. Chris Pronger takes the will of opposing players away from them, and when you consider the talent of the players he has done this to, you can’t help but develop a healthy respect for the guy, even when you can’t stand him.
It’s no coincidence that 3 different teams with Pronger on their blueline have gone to the Stanley Cup Finals in past 5 NHL seasons. Those teams went to the Finals in large part because of the monster rear guard that Pronger is and the fact that come playoff time he finds another gear of intensity and grit that few players in the NHL can match. His departure from Edmonton upset me, but there isn’t a day I wish that it hadn’t worked out, as I’d take him on my hockey team any day of the week and I consider him a player that I’ve been lucky to watch play during my lifetime. He is truly an elite player, that only comes along once and awhile. If the Flyers find away to win the Stanley Cup here in the next few days, he would be my pick for the Conn Smythe Trophy to sum things up.
Then again, this is just another damned opinion.
