Pronger
BOSTON — Anaheim defenseman Chris Pronger, a multi-time All-Star and a Stanley Cup-winner with the Ducks in ’07, has been the subject of trade rumors seemingly from the time this season started.
Today he might’ve moved closer to actually being dealt, as the Ducks dished winger Chris Kunitz to Pittsburgh in exchange for defenseman Ryan Whitney. With the former Boston University star coming on board, the Ducks have a backlog in players and salary on the back end. Heck, Pronger could even be headed to the Boston Bruins, who have been one of the teams involved in those rumors all along.
After the Ducks’ morning skate today at TD Banknorth Garden in preparation for their game with the Bruins, Pronger talked about what it’s like to always have rumors circling while trying to maintain a high level of play.
“There’s always rumors about a lot of guys. And you’re going to see a lot of names,” he said. “I mean, I was going to Toronto because (former Ducks general manager Brian Burke) is there. They’re in a rebuilding, why would they want me?
“There’s just a lot of things that get thrown out there. I think it’s just a lot of people throwing stuff out there to see if somebody’s going to react to it or if it’s going to stick.”
A Pronger-to-Boston deal would push the Bruins to favorite status in the NHL, depending on what they’d have to give up. You’d probably have to start with a package that includes Phil Kessel and Matt Hunwick to obtain the blueliner whose cap hit for this year and next is $6.25 million. In Pronger, any team would be obtaining a guy that has produced 10-26-36 totals and an even plus/minus despite admittedly playing “under a microscope” all seaosn long.
[...] 3:24 p.m.: With the Ducks trading Kunitz to Pittsburgh for defenseman Ryan Whitney, the rumors are flying that now Anaheim has to move a blueliner. Even before the Kunitz deal, there’d been tons of rumors that either Chris Pronger or Scott Niedermayer was on his way out. Today after the morning skate, Pronger addressed the rumors, which include some that have him landing in Boston. You can read his comment at TheBruinsBlog.net. [...]
That would be a horrible trade. sure the Bruins are set to make a run at the Cup and one move could put them over the top. But this isn’t the move if they plan on being a force in the future. Age wise this trade makes no sense, two young blossoming players for a blueliner who’s reaching the back half of his career. Then there’s the fact the Bruins’ defense is tough enough as it stands now, and the offense is just too streaky to be moving Kessel taking away a guy who can score, especially in shootouts where the Bruins tend to struggle. As much as I’d love to see the Bruins win a Cup this year, I’d also love to see them be a potent team for years to come.
[...] morning skate, Pronger addressed the rumors, which include some that have him landing in Boston. You can read his comment at TheBruinsBlog.net. 1:20 p.m.: Fresh off their homestand-opening win over Florida, the Boston Bruins will again test [...]