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Happy Chris Pronger Day, Anaheim!

Tonight: Raise a glass and raise an elbow to celebrate the three-year anniversary of Chris Pronger Day.  This, by the way, was the same picture I posted that fateful day.

Tonight: Raise a glass and raise an elbow to celebrate the three-year anniversary of Chris Pronger Day. This, by the way, was the same picture I posted that fateful day.

Three years ago today I posted this:

Anaheim changes name to "Norris Ducks"

This is unbelievable. Chris frickin' Pronger? To go along with Scott frickin' Niedermayer? A pairing that is a blueline staple for Team Canada, let alone Team Anaheim.

And to think, all we had to do was wait around while other GMs continued to shoot themselves in the foot?

I'm going to have to post on this for the rest of the summer, but here's some quick takes:
  • I have spoken out against top-heavy salary structures in the past, but I think with these two guys (both clocking in at above $6 M per year), you can make exceptions. For one, they will be throwing in 25+ minutes a night (our most important minutes). Secondly, each of them is capable of 'carrying around' a cheap carry-on partner like Beauchemin ($500k) or Vishnevski (yet unsigned). The salaries look decent if you think about 'blueline pairs' rather than 'blueline individuals'.
  • Losing Lupul hurts us somewhat, but I think having to sign him (RFA status) would hurt somewhat also. I have no idea what he is likely to command (especially given his four-goal playoff game vs. Colorado), but it is likely to be higher than we would have liked to commit to. Lupul does have a lot of upside, but that is true for a lot of our young roster. The difference is, most everyone else we know what we're paying.
  • To think about how in the past, Anaheim had trouble attracting top players, seems so far away now. Our last several offseasons have seen such signings and acquisitions as Petr Sykora, Adam Oates, Sergei Fedorov, Vinny Prospal, Scott Niedermayer, Teemu Selanne, and now Chris Pronger. That is not a shabby list at all.
  • A special thanks goes out to Ruslan Salei, whose encumbering deal with Florida enabled one less potential Pronger bidder. Maybe the most valuable thing Salei has done for us.
  • Was there some sort of discount we got for losing to Edmonton in the conference finals? I guess we certainly didn't owe them any favors.
  • I guess the only thing we have left to do this offseason, then, is to re-attain former Duck Sean Pronger, to give Rob Niedermayer some nepotism company.

Ah, the memories.  So Ducks fans, have yourself a happy Pronger Day today, and the rest of you patriots have a happy and drinky fourth.

Go Ducks.

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BTW, I think that there are three distinct moments that brought the Anaheim franchise into the realm of respectability:

1. the 2003 Cup Finals appearance
2. the first summer of Brian Burke and the signing of Scott Niedermayer
3. the trade for Chris Pronger

It really was the icing on the cake — kind of cool too see how that first-day gut reaction panned out, anyways.

http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Jul 3, 2009 7:40 AM PDT reply actions  

I guess you kind of refer to it by listing the ’03 finals, but what originally brought the Mighty Ducks into my realm of respectability were the many years spent watching the offensive wizardry of Teemu & Paul Kariya…

2009 LA Kings Hockey: thanks to Joe Sakic's snowblower, WE'RE BETTER THAN THE AV'S!!!!

by DodgerBlueBalls on Jul 3, 2009 10:50 AM PDT up reply actions  

Well, yeah, that’s probably the precursor — that’s how I became a fan as well. Still, I’m not sure that got that much respect league-wide. The two guys were regulars on the league leaderboard, but the franchise was still mostly a joke.

But yeah, probably four steps.

http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Jul 3, 2009 11:07 AM PDT up reply actions  

I think they were an anachronism at a time when boring defense won championships and playoff series. I’d say they had the adoration of people who missed offensive hockey, but definitely not respect or fear.

Anaheim Calling
http://anaheimcalling.blogspot.com

by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Jul 3, 2009 12:02 PM PDT up reply actions  

Fuck you very much.

Again.

SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there)

by Doogie2K on Jul 3, 2009 12:12 PM PDT reply actions  

If you guys could’ve gotten Heatley for Smid and Penner, it would almost have made the previous Ducks screw jobs okay . . . almost.

Anaheim Calling
http://anaheimcalling.blogspot.com

by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Jul 3, 2009 4:25 PM PDT up reply actions  

Ahh… when Beach was a “cheap carry-on partner”. How times have changed… Gonna miss that guy in Anaheim.

by JasonF on Jul 7, 2009 8:02 AM PDT reply actions  

I hope the Flyers don’t think they’re going to have the same Pronger you guys had for the length of that contract.

Also, since Pahlsson went to Columbus, and Stepehenson gog non-tendered, the Hawks gt nothing for THE GREAT JAMES WISNIEWSKI

HOCKEENIGHT.COM...home of FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS and LEAVE IT TO BETTMAN...now with PODCASTING!!!

by Forklift14 on Jul 9, 2009 6:07 AM PDT reply actions  

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