NASHVILLE - Chris Pronger's tour of the OTHL has now visited one third of the OTHL cities. The Nashville Predators hope that the latest stop in Pronger's travels will be a permanent one.
After several days of correspondence with the Edmonton Oilers GM as well as many other GMs and with nothing to show for it, Predators GM, Tom Poraszka finally completed a deal that brings in one of the best defenders in the league to Nashville. The Predators and Oilers finalized a deal on Wednesday that saw recently acquired Ed Jovanovski along with two prospects, Dustin Boyd and Martin St. Pierre go from Nashville in exchange for Chris Pronger and a 4th round draft choice in the 2006 OTHL Entry Draft.
Chris Pronger, a franchise defenseman is a complete package on the blueline by demonstrating incredible defending accentuated by momentum-changing bodychecks and excellent power play quarterback characteristics. Pronger was a member of the Red Wings team that eliminated the Predators in last year's playoffs and limited the Predators offense to a horrid 5 goals in 4 games. Pronger has since been dealt to five different teams, the Predators being his 10th franchise since the beginning of the OTHL. The move significantly upgrades the Predators' number one defenseman spot, previously occupied by the involved Jovanovski. In the 2003-04 regular season, Pronger tallied 6 goals and 35 assists in 77 games as a Red Wing, while being among the league's hit leaders with 175 hits and logging a workhorse amoung of ice-time averaging 24.2 minutes a game.
"We're very excited to bring Chris [Pronger] to our club, we feel he immediately and drastically improves our defense in both offensive and defensive aspects. We feel it is unfortunate that Chris has been dealt so often, and we feel it is a bit of a phenomenon that teams would want to move him. We're ecstatic to have him in a Predators jersey and are comfortable in saying that he will remain a Predator for as long as we are capable of keeping him one. We'd love for Chris' stay in Nashville to be a permanent one, but for the time being all we can guarantee is the 2005-06 season, and that is what we are doing. We feel it is unfair the way he has been treated and he will not need to uproot his family for at least the rest of this season. Welcome to Smashville, Mr. Pronger, hopefully your stay is a long and prosperous one.", said GM Tom Poraszka at the press conference as he unveiled the #44 in Predators' mustard yellow.
Pronger is a name that immediately demands respect from everyone associated with the league thanks to his long and successful career, in spite of his young age of 30. With a captain yet to be named, Pronger could immediately take over the role thanks to his experience and leadership abilities, but the 'C' was not present just yet on the jersey unveiled at the press conference.
"I'm tired of all these deals but if the Predators are truly committed to keeping me here, then I'm happy to be somewhere where I am respected and valued. I'm prepared to put regret on the plate of 9 other teams and hope that this young team can benefit from some of us older and more experienced players. As for the captaincy, I haven't even thought about it as an option, I would gladly accept if offered but I should probably get accustomed with the team first.", commented Pronger on his thoughts of becoming a Predator and potentially stepping into a captaincy role.
In the midst of the blockbuster trade, the Predators are also beginning training camp, with still several restricted free agents unsigned. Defenseman Jeff Jillson, forwards Martin Erat, Chad Kilger and goaltenders Tomas Vokoun and Mika Noronen all remain without contracts for the upcoming season but management feels that all the remaining free agents will be signed shortly. As players took their physicals earlier today, Barry Trotz spoke to the media concerning potential line formations.
"I have nothing set in stone considering the status of several players is still in the air. I have been told not to concern myself with contracts since management's belief is that everyone will return. With that in mind, my intentions are to have Datsyuk center the top line with Prospal on his right. We'll need to find a left winger that we feel is a comfortable addition to that line. We'd like Erat and Hartnell to play together on opposite wings and stick a center like Johnson or Bulis in between them. Beyond that, we'll just need to try things out, there's plenty of camp and preseason to go, so nothing is written in stone."
There are several younger players at camp looking to crack the Predators' lineup, including Simon Gamache, Magnus Kahnberg, Timofei Shishkanov, Jeff Tambellini, Jiri Hudler, Scottie Upshall and Ryan Suter. With the Predators in need of some depth, a couple of these youngsters could potentially see OTHL icetime either immediately or sometime later in the year.
Trotz intends to begin scrimmages and drills tomorrow at camp as the preseason rapidly approaches. With a large and respected presence on the Predators' young blueline, management hopes that Vokoun won't have to worry about much else than signing on the dotted line.