Pronger's concussion recovery has been slow process

Philadelphia Flyers General Manager Paul Holmgren called himself "a glass is half full kind of guy," but admitted Thursday that there's almost no chance defenseman Chris Pronger plays again this season.

Pronger hasn't played since Nov. 19 due to concussion issues that originated when he was hit in the eye by the stick of Toronto's Mikhail Grabovski during a game Oct. 24. After meeting with a pair of Pittsburgh-based concussion specialists last month, it was announced on Dec. 15 that Pronger would sit out the rest of the season, as well as the Stanley Cup Playoffs, due to  post-concussion syndrome.

Chris Pronger

Defense - PHI

GOALS: 1 | ASST: 11 | PTS: 12
SOG: 23 | +/-: 1

Holmgren said he's spoken to Pronger a number of times, and told reporters that Pronger is going through different procedures in an attempt to help him feel better.

"He was prescribed glasses, I think that's helped him a bit," said Holmgren. "He's doing some other stuff, some other treatment regimens. He's seeing the doctors again Feb. 1. We'll have a little better idea where we're at -- or maybe we won't, I don't know. We'll continue to monitor and hope for the best."

Holmgren isn't the only one.

Lauren Pronger, Chris' wife, talked Wednesday with Comcast SportsNet about how her husband is struggling with his condition.

"It's a tough go at home. We're going day-to-day right now -- good days, bad days," she said. "It's been a lot of trauma going on. We're just praying right now. He's battling. He wants to be out there more than anybody. It's tough for all of us to watch him go through this."

Chris' only statement since being shut down for the season came Jan. 14, when he released a short statement through the Flyers: "It is very, very tough right now. I don't feel well and it hurts so much not to be playing."

Lauren said the family's three children have been affected by Chris' injury, as well.
"They're confused all the time," she said, "'Dad, when can we go to a game? Dad, when can you play?' And he looks at them and says please don't ask that question. I want to get out there and play, too."

Lauren added the last month has been a major change for her, as well.

"It's been an adjustment for all of us," she said. "He's around a lot more -- I'm not used to that. I do as much as I can to support him. I want to see him better."

Holmgren had left the door open for Pronger to return this season, but said from what he's heard from Pronger, that doesn't seem feasible.

"I'm a glass is half full kind of guy," he said. "I don't know. We'll see. I would say the odds of that happening aren't very good."

Lauren had hoped Chris would be able to make an appearance at Wednesday's Flyers Wives Fashion Show in Philadelphia, which she hosted, but said Chris wasn't healthy enough to join her at the event.

"It was not a good day today, he's not here tonight," she said. "Breaks his heart, breaks my heart. We're hoping for a better day tomorrow, and at least a couple good days in a row would be nice."

Contact Adam Kimelman at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter: @NHLAdamK