In an interview Wednesday with TSN Radio 1050 AM, the veteran blueliner admitted being at least three weeks from being able to train at 100 percent.
"I'm still walking on the treadmill, light bike riding," the 36-year-old defenseman said. "The back doctor wanted 12 weeks for me not doing a whole lot to allow that back area to scar up and then fully heal up before I start torqueing and pushing on it hard."
"Whether I'm at camp or not, I don't know that yet, it's still early to tell. I would guess I would not be starting camp just from the mere fact that I haven't been able to work out at all yet. I'm skinny to begin with, and now I'm looking really skinny." -- Chris Pronger
It was the fourth surgery for Pronger in a year's time, following knee surgery in August -- which kept him out of training camp and the first two games of the 2010-11 season -- foot surgery in December and hand surgery in March.
"I would say I'm quite a bit behind where I would be training-wise and working out-wise," Pronger said. "Whether I'm at camp or not, I don't know that yet, it's still early to tell. I would guess I would not be starting camp just from the mere fact that I haven't been able to work out at all yet. I'm skinny to begin with, and now I'm looking really skinny."
The 17-year veteran had 4 goals and 25 points in 50 games last season -- his lowest game total since 2002-03, when knee and wrist injuries limited him to just five games with the St. Louis Blues. He was limited to just three of Philadelphia's 11 Stanley Cup playoff games last spring, first due to the hand injury and then his back problems.
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