Pronger joins NHL’s Department of Player Safety

Pronger was hired by the NHL's Department of Player Safety.

The NHL has hired former defenceman Chris Pronger to work in the Department of Player Safety, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman confirmed Thursday.

Pronger, 39, is still being paid by the Philadelphia Flyers even though he hasn’t played in the NHL since the 2011-12 season. He has not officially retired.

“Chris’ case is unique,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman told reporters Wednesday. “There are salary cap reasons why he couldn’t officially retire. I’m not sure that presents any problem at all to deal with. He’s done playing. He gets paid no matter what from the Flyers. He doesn’t owe them anything.”

This season, Pronger carries a salary cap hit of $4.9 million for the Flyers. The club signed him to a seven-year extension after acquiring him in a trade with the Anaheim Ducks in 2009.

The defenceman was suspended eight times in his NHL career for a total of 22 games.

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