Flyers acquire Pronger from Ducks

From NHL.com

Ducks send star defenseman Pronger to Philadelphia
Friday, 06.26.2009 / 9:46 PM / NHL Entry Draft
By Shawn P. Roarke - NHL.com Managing Editor

MONTREAL -- The Anaheim Ducks kicked off the 2009 NHL Entry Draft in memorable fashion by dealing veteran defenseman Chris Pronger to the Philadelphia Flyers minutes before the New York Islanders selected John Tavares with the first pick.

The Flyers paid a healthy price: rookie defenseman Luca Sbisa, forward Joffrey Lupul and two first-round picks: this season's No. 21 and next season's first-round pick. Anaheim will also receive a conditional third-round pick in one of the next two drafts.

Philadelphia also received 25-year-old minor-league forward Ryan Dingle.

Pronger, entering the final year of a deal that will pay him $6.25 million in 2009-10, said he was not shocked to be traded.

"I'm not that surprised," Pronger said. "You hear it once and you can brush it off, when you hear it twice, you can still brush it off, but (when) you hear it over and over again, I think you have to think it is going to be a reality.

Pronger, one of the NHL's biggest defensemen at 6-feet-6, 221 pounds, brings a physical element into the Flyers lineup, something that was seen as a shortcoming when Philadelphia lost to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

"It's obviously a city that is very passionate about the sport of hockey," Pronger said of Philadelphia. "Their style of play certainly fits my game and I think they have a lot of young talent up front.

"I want to help this team win. That's why we all play this game -- to win the Stanley Cup."

Pronger won the Cup with Anaheim in 2007, playing a huge part in the Ducks' run, including a Stanley Cup Final victory against Ottawa. He also helped Edmonton reach the Final the previous spring.

Philadelphia GM Paul Holmgren said he made the move to make his team a legitimate Stanley Cup threat next season.

Pronger, 34, is one of several players being actively shopped here this week. He became even more expendable when veteran defenseman Scott Niedermayer told the Ducks that he would return for another season, instead of retiring. Niedermayer becomes a free agent on July 1.

Pronger played in all 82 games in 2008-09, scoring 11 goals and 48 points. He also had 88 penalty minutes and will give the Flyers a rugged presence on the blue line, something they were lacking after losing Derian Hatcher to an injury-induced retirement.

Pronger was taken second overall in the 1993 Entry Draft by the Hartford Whalers. Two years later, he was traded to the St. Louis Blues, where he developed into an elite-level defenseman. Pronger also played for Edmonton before being traded to the Ducks three years ago.

Lupul, 25, played for Anaheim before he was traded to Edmonton three years ago as part of the package that sent Pronger to Anaheim. In his five-year career, Lupul has three 20-goal seasons, including 25 in 2008-09. He will help provide the second-line offense that the Ducks have been seeking and is signed for the next four seasons.

Sbisa was taken with the No. 19 pick by Philadelphia in the 2008 Entry Draft. The Swiss defenseman played 39 games with the Flyers last season.

Not surprised that Pronger was traded, but was surprised the Ducks wanted Lupol back. I'm actually quite surprised they still got so much for Pronger with the 2 first rounders + prospects and players, that's a nice package for an aging player like Pronger.