Pronger Lacks Class!

Chris Pronger is at it again. The man I have deemed the second best defenseman of the last decade (only behind Lidstrom) many times is making news again but this time for all the wrong reasons. Statistically as well as the trophy case shows "Lids" has clearly had a better career, however, the main thing that separates the two is now most evident, class. This is something Chris Pronger clearly does not understand judging by his actions following the first 2 games of this years Stanley Cup Final.

Throughout his amazing career Chris Pronger has been a force. He is the only dman to win the MVP and Norris trophy in the same season since Bobby Orr, he accomplished that in 2000 (Lidstrom never won an MVP). Pronger also is now taking part in his third Cup Final and already has won a ring thanks to his time with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007. While Pronger will someday be enshrined in the Hall of Fame and be remembered for all the positives, he will also be known for moments that make sports nation everywhere scratch their heads and say "grow up!"

At the conclusion of each of the first two games of this years finals Pronger skated across the ice to take home a souvenir. He picked up the game used puck and took it with him to the Flyers locker room. This is something that Lidstrom has never and would never consider doing. No one knows what he did with these pucks after that, Pronger has said he put them where they belong "in the garbage", but that is really besides the point. The point is that he is only doing this to get under the skin of Blackhawk goaltender Anti Niemi who obviously would have wanted the pucks from his first two career wins in a Stanley Cup Final. This seems to have worked to an extent since following game 2 former Flyers and current Hawk Ben Eager took offense and had some not so kind words for the 6ft 5' 250 pound future hall of famer. Pronger responded to Eager by slapping a towel in his direction. Fights and nasty words happen all the time in hockey big game or not and certainly are apart of the game, however, Eager should have done more then just yell at Pronger. To really show team unity and support for a teammate any Blackhawk outside their stars should have jumped Pronger as if they were a bunch of Tu Pac fans coming across a member of Junior Mafia.

Head games have been going on since the beginning of sports hundreds of years ago but Pronger has almost gone to far. Those pucks do not belong in the garbage, they belong on Niemi's mantle to represent his strong play. Pronger may be frustrated, as the Sharks were a series ago, that Chicago may now be winning thanks in part to Niemi between the pipes rather than in spite of him. What was a weakness has now become a strength for the Blackhawks. However, stealing those pucks shows a lack of respect for a worthy opponent and a guy who has become a great story of perseverance and hard work paying off, as well as thumbing your nose at the entire sport. This also creates a dark cloud over a series that has been very competitive and entertaining despite Prongers Flyers trailing 2 games to none so far.

I think Mr. Pronger needs to worry less about who takes ownership of the game pucks and be more concerned with how to stop Chicago's top line and maybe get Philly back in this series. As some advice for the Hawks, win or lose at the end of game 3 do whatever you have to do in order to obtain that puck. I don't care if you need bust Prongers leg with a lead pipe like Tonya Harding in the Olympics to do so, get the puck! If Niemi doesn't get the pleasure of taking home victory pucks then neither should Leighton. The race is now on to see which young goalie can add a puck from a victory in the Stanley Cup Finals to their trophy case first.