Philadelphia Flyers captain Chris Pronger will join his team at training camp, although he will not participate in on-ice activities due to the fact he has not been cleared by doctors to play hockey.
Pronger, 38, has not played since November 2011 due to post-concussion syndrome and it is unclear if the former Hart and Norris Trophy winner will ever play in the National Hockey League again. Indications are that it’s unlikely he will ever return to the ice.
Chris Pronger will be at #flyers training camp but he won’t be on the ice. Status Quo as he hasn’t been cleared medically.
— Dan Murphy (@sportsnetmurph) January 6, 2013
There is still five years remaining on Pronger’s contract with a salary cap hit of over $4.9 million each season.
Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren has said he is hopeful that Pronger can return, and until he is declared out for the season he wouldn’t name a replacement captain. However, star forward Claude Giroux is thought to be the likely candidate to wear the ‘C’ if a change is made.
In 1,167 career regular season games the veteran defenceman has 157 goals, 698 points, 1,590 penalty minutes, is plus-183 and won a Stanley Cup championship with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007.
The NHL and NHLPA ended a 113-day lockout early Sunday morning.