Politics withstanding, defenseman Chris Pronger is eligible to join the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2015, according to a report by Pierre LeBrun of ESPN on Monday afternoon.
Chris Pronger could be eligible to join the Hall of Fame in 2015
Chris Pronger might be eligible to join the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2015, according to a report.
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In speaking with Jeff Denomme, president and CEO of the Hockey Hall of Fame, LeBrun learned that the bylaws of the Hall of Fame would allow Pronger to be included as a member of the Class of 2015. Pronger last played during the 2011-12 regular season, which Denomme said would allow Pronger to be voted in, via ESPN:
“He would be eligible in 2015 as far as the way the bylaw reads and as long, obviously, as he doesn’t play again prior to his election. If there was any question on matters pertaining to any particular candidate’s eligibility, I suspect that’s something the board would raise at some point though.”
The issue for Pronger is he is still technically an NHL player even though his career is essentially over. He still has an active contract -- in a relative sense -- with the Philadelphia Flyers through the 2016-17 season. Having sustained a career ending eye injury in November of 2011, Pronger has remained on long-term injured reserve. This allows the Flyers to save space under the salary cap and for Pronger to collect the entirety of his contract.
Manager Paul Holmgren recently confirmed Pronger’s inability to play again and reaffirmed this to LeBrun. According to a source, the Hall of Fame’s board would want to know Pronger is officially done before voting him in.
Whether they will choose to do so will have to wait until they vote upon the Class of 2015.
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