Flyers sign Chris Pronger to contract extension

Chris Pronger said he wanted to be a Philadelphia Flyer for a long time -- and he's going to get his wish.

The veteran defenseman, acquired in a trade with the Anaheim Ducks on June 27, signed a multiyear contract extension, General Manager Paul Holmgren said Tuesday. No terms were disclosed, but media reports said it's a seven-year deal worth $35 million.

"I am very excited to be able to retire a Philadelphia Flyer, and I am looking forward to many years with the Flyers logo on my chest," Pronger said in a statement. "I think both parties wanted to get it handled in a timely fashion in order to move on and get things set up for future years down the line so that the Flyers could make moves either this year or next year and know that they had me in place."

Pronger, a 13-year NHL veteran who turns 35 in October, was acquired by the Flyers at the Entry Draft in Montreal along with forward Ryan Dingle for forward Joffrey Lupul, defenseman Luca Sbisa, two first-round draft picks and a conditional third-round pick.

"We are pleased to have one of the NHL’s premier defensemen in our organization and under contract long term," Holmgren said in making the announcement. "When we made the trade for Chris, it was our intention to get him signed to an extension and we are glad we could come to this agreement today.”

The 6-foot-6, 215-pound defenseman, a Stanley Cup winner in 2007 with the Ducks, was introduced to the Philadelphia media on Monday and said he was hopeful that his agent, Pat Murray, would be able to work out a deal with Holmgren. Pronger had one year left on the contract he signed with the Edmonton Oilers in 2005.

"I would love to finish my career here," Pronger said Monday.

Pronger, selected by Hartford with the No. 2 pick in the 1993 Entry Draft played one season with the Edmonton Oilers -- helping them to the 2006 Stanley Cup Final, which they lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in seven games. He then demanded a trade and spent the past three seasons with Anaheim, winning the Cup in his first season with the Ducks.

In 2008-09, Pronger had 11 goals and 37 assists for 48 points, along with 88 penalty minutes in 82 regular-season games. He led the Ducks and was second in the NHL in average time on ice at 26:56. Pronger also had 2 goals and 8 assists for 10 points in 13 Stanley Cup Playoff games while averaging 27:12 of ice time.
 
In his 15 NHL seasons with the Whalers (1993-94 to 1994-95), St. Louis Blues (1995-96 to 2003-04), Oilers (2005-06) and Ducks (2006-07 to 2008-09), Pronger has 142 goals and 464 assists for 606 points and 1,457 penalty minutes in 1,022 regular-season games. He also has 22 goals and 80 assists for 102 points and 286 penalty minutes in 147 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

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