Subban to the Flyers?

If Boston Bruins fans didn’t have enough reason to hate the Philadelphia Flyers already – I am sure that if the Flyers signed P.K. Subban to an offer sheet and they were able to land the Hab’s mouthy defenseman – this would give ample reasons to Bruins fans to hate them even more.

It seems that this story is taking on a life of its own – Hab’s defenseman P.K. Subban, was offered a contract by the Montreal Canadians last week for two years’ worth 5.5 million or 2.75 million a year, however, Subban has not yet agreed to the terms and or signed a new contract. Could the Flyers next offer sheet be going to P.K. Subban?

Chris Nichols, Sports Net --- According to French sports network RDS, Subban reportedly turned down a two-year $5.5 million offer last week.

Enter the Philadelphia Flyers who appear in need of a top defenseman and who have not shied away from extending offer sheets in the past.

Just last month Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren signed Nashville Predators defenseman Shea Weber to a 14-year $110 million offer sheet, only to have the Predators match less than a week later.

In 1997 the Flyers landed Chris Gratton with an offer sheet, while in 2006 the Flyers agreed on an offer sheet with Ryan Kesler which the Vancouver Canucks eventually matched.

So could the Flyers extend another offer sheet this summer, this time to either Carlson or Subban?

It will be interesting to see what the Flyers do – this week they lost another defenseman Andrej Meszaros for an unknown time after he had surgery to repair his torn Achilles tendon. The Flyers also don’t know if Chris Pronger will ever play hockey again – to top it all off the Flyers lost former Denver Pioneer Matt Carle to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Lineup decisions for Philly...

According to The Bruins Blog Flyer head coach Peter Laviolette will again go with sieve goalie Brian Boucher as their starting goalie for game two of the Eastern Conference Semifinal. That could be good news for the Boston Bruins.

PHILADELPHIA — Flyers head coach Peter Laviolette left no doubt about who his starting goaltender will be tonight against the Bruins in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series at the Wells Fargo Center.

Brian Boucher, the Game 1 starter who was pulled in the second period of Boston’s 7-3 win, will get another chance to solve Boston’s offense.

Also, according to the Boston Herald Flyers Thug Defenseman Chris Pronger is a scratch for game two and will not play tonight. I guess the Bruins forwards don't have to worry about being hacked by Pronger the lumberjack.

PHILADELPHIA — Late word from the Flyers camp that cornerstone defenseman Chris Pronger will not play tonight, due to a new, undisclosed injury incurred in Saturday’s series-opener. There was no confirmation on his ailment, but it was believed to be in the lower back, upper leg or perhaps both. Pronger returned from a broken hand to play the final two games of the Flyers’ first-round series vs. Buffalo, and played 19:45 in Game 1 against the B’s.

Chris Pronger slash

Watch this two handed slash from Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger as he hacks Boston Bruins forward Daniel Paille. In looking at the video I thought that warranted more than a two minute penalty.

Pronger responds to Burish...

Wouldn't you love to see about a four games series between these two team next season? I think it would be a lot of fun. Seriously! This on going drama making for some great theater. In today's sports world we need rivalries and villains. I think to Chicago Blackhawks fans Pronger is a villain.

"He had his chance during the series, didn't he" Pronger said. "Why is he worrying about me instead of celebrating winning the Cup? Boy, it just goes to show how much I was in his kitchen for him to be talking about me five minutes after he wins the Cup."

Burish, 27, played a minor role in helping the Blackhawks win the Cup. In the 15 games he dressed - he was a healthy scratch in seven - he managed one assist playing an average 5:34 per game and was minus-1. Pronger, meanwhile, was his team's best player and led all defencemen in playoff scoring with four goals and 18 points in 23 games. Despite the fact he was minus-5 in Game 4 of the final, Pronger finished plus-5 in the playoffs.

Still, he was a very controversial figure, because he picked up the game pucks in Games 1 and 2 of the final in Chicago.

"Who cares if I take the game puck?" Pronger said. "The media blew that way out of proportion."

Pronger won over many members of the media during the final with his sarcasm and humour during Q&A sessions. As for Burish, well let's just say there won't be too many people who look back at the Blackhawks championship season and think they wouldn't have done it without him.

When told about Burish's comments, Pronger said: "I could care less what somebody on another team says about me. I don't play this game to make friends. I play to win." [Sports Net.CA]

The Chrissy Pronger story.

I have to wonder if the Chicago Tribune is going to regret putting this unflattering picture of Chris Pronger in their paper or not? Personally I think it's funny but it’s unnecessary.

The Chicago Tribune printed a photo of Flyers defenceman Chris Pronger on Tuesday, which named the veteran as "Chrissy Pronger" and used an altered photo showing him wearing a dress while playing.

Pronger was asked by the media if he had seen the story.

"I don't read what you guys write - good or bad," replied Pronger.

It definitely wasn't good, or flattering. A photo-shopped picture, and a play on his name. He was asked if such shots against him plus the negative reaction that he receives in Chicago motivate his play on the ice. For his part, Pronger wasn't biting.

"I really couldn't care to be honest with you," said Pronger.
[TSN.COM]

Big Buff smokes Chris Pronger

Talk about finishing a check against your opponent that was a text book hit. Last night the Blackhawks did what they needed to do to win the game. The Blackhawks finished their checks and jumped on the Flyers mistakes.

Chris Pronger owning the Hawks

There has been a lot of talk about Flyers Defenseman Chris Pronger during this season's Stanley Cup playoffs. Some of the comments I have read is that Pronger is a douche bag, thug or a major league hack or insert ______ your favorite description of Chris Pronger here.

Personally, while I think the officiating has been brutal at best in the Stanley Cup playoffs, I don’t think Chris Pronger is a hack. I also don't think Chris Pronger is a dirty player, he is a tough, hard nosed player. Like someone said in another post, however, while I don't like Pronger personally especially after the Bruins lost to his team as well, most of us would've probably love to have him on our team. Pronger is not a player from the Daniel "the Hack" Carcillo mold.

Sure! Chris Pronger has been suspended a couple of times by the NHL for questionable play. Physically, Chris Pronger is a mountain of a man, he is 6"6" tall weighing in at 220 pounds and he has been very effective in this series taking the Blackhawks off of their game. Also, I have seen Pronger using his stick on the Blackhawks players but I lay the blame at the officials for that one.

If anything Chris Pronger is in the Blackhawk player’s head and he is causing them to take stupid penalties and knock them off their game. That’s NHL hockey folks and Chris Pronger and the Flyers are exploiting the young Blackhawks players almost to perfection. I can't fault them for that. You play with what the refs give you.

Being matched with Matt Carle against the line of Jonathan Toews, Dustin Byfuglien, and Patrick Kane has been the Flyers trump card in their two wins. Pronger was +4 last night, while Patrick Kane was -4, this despite a furious third-period comeback where visions of John Stevens danced in our heads. That line has been completely shut down, while the forward line matched against them has tore them apart. Ville Leino has done nothing but score huge goals for this team, and has even prompted a “#Villedelphia” tag on Twitter. Toews has been unable to get into the middle consistently, Byfuglien started being moved about the lineup (although I don’t think his two-minute shift was part of Joel Quennville’s plan), and Patrick Kane, well, -4 speaks for itself.

The point is that the Blackhawks have been more worried about that Chris Pronger is doing to them as opposed to what they’re doing to Chris Pronger. Sure, Pronger has gotten away with some marginable, if not questionable, stick-tactics in this series. But that’s going both ways. Look at what is and is not being called. Anyone who watches hockey on a regular basis knows that as the playoffs go on, the rules usually change. I’ve been watching hockey since I was 10 years old, and this might be the first time that over the course of a series, the Flyers have made the officiating and advantage for them. They know what they can get away with, and whether it’s right or wrong, it’s going both ways. It’s not Chris Pronger’s fault that the Blackhawks allow themselves to go over the edge. Last night, the Blackhawks took three offensive zone penalties, none of them being goaltender interference. That’s something that has to absolutely drive Quennville up a tree. And now the media focus is off of Chris Pronger messing with Ben Eager, it’s Chris Pronger shutting down Chicago’s top line. Right now, they know what’s coming, and they must feel like there’s nothing they can do about it. [Read the story here]

Here is what I do if I was the Blackhawks coach, I tell the players to stop taking moronic penalties and play their game, and tell them not to get distracted or involved in stupid selfish after the whistle stuff with the Flyers. Take the body, hit their top players. See if you can catch Richards or Carter with some big hits.

Chris Pronger hit on Jonathan Toews

Check out this hit.