"Well, I was there".
That was Chris Pronger's response when asked if he had seen the new footage of his stomp on Canucks forward Ryan Kesler.
The new footage that ended up landing him an eight-game suspension.
Until late Thursday, it seemed that Pronger would come away from the incident unscathed, as there wasn't enough evidence to indicate any intention behind his stomp.
Then a better video came out.
If you haven't seen it, Kesler falls to the ice while attempting to finish a check on Pronger. From there, you can clearly see that he makes an attempt to trap Pronger's right leg between his two legs. Pronger, staring down at Kesler's legs the entire time, lifts his leg twice. The first time, Kesler's legs loosen enough for Pronger to disengage from Kesler.
The second?
Well, that would be the infamous stomp.
Now the argument could be made (if you're a Pronger "Purist") that the second stomp was "accidental," and he was merely trying to get away from Kesler.
But if you watch the video, you see that Kesler clearly releases Pronger's leg after he tries to wriggle out the first time. Pronger is even staring at his own foot as he lifts and drops it onto Kesler's leg.
And for this, he got eight games.
It's not the first time Pronger's been suspended. For every suspension that hockey "experts" have blamed on Pronger's sheer size (possibly the McAmmond hit...I said possibly), he has gone out and slashed, cross-checked, kicked, and even left the bench to attack opponents.
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The NHL, however, still gives him preferential treatment. Maybe it's because he's a former MVP and Norris Trophy winner, or because he's been selected to six All-Star games, or because he's an "ambassador for the game."
Whatever the reason, though, Pronger is treated differently.
But let's look at other such "ambassadors." When was the last time you saw LeBron James undercut a player going up for a dunk? When was the last time Tom Brady punted a cornerback square in the groin? When was the last time Ryan Howard, Albert Pujols, or Derek Jeter threw a bat at a pitcher after striking out?
Never.
The reason they don't do these things is because they know what they represent.
Because they live in the spotlight, it's up to them to help create positive headlines for their sports, and to encourage people to come out to games for the sportsmanship, the competition, and the excitement—not the brutish attacks.
That's why I think Pronger's tenure as an "ambassador of the game" is officially over. Do we really want someone who publicly refuses to play for a city and has been suspended eight times representing a sport that's struggled to stay alive in more than a few markets?
That's like saying that Jose Canseco is an ambassador for fair play across the sporting world.
Still, because of his achievements, Pronger is someone the NHL wants to protect. Chris Simon stomps on Jarkko Ruutu and he's gone for 30 games—and sent to counseling to boot (not to say he didn't need it). Pronger stomps on Ryan Kesler, and he's gone for eight—because he's still pretty-boy Chris Pronger to the NHL hierarchy.
Simon allegedly uttered racial slurs against Mike Grier, in retaliation for Grier making remarks about Simon's native heritage. Although there was never formal proof as to whether or not the language was used, Simon was suspended three games.
If Pronger were to drop a racial slur, he'd have to be mic'd up in order for the NHL to even remotely care about it, let alone consider suspending him for it.
Note: Even if it was in retaliation, I'm not saying Simon's slurs were okay. I felt it was just important to note that Mike Grier also used racial slurs.
Am I insinuating that Pronger should be given 30 games for his conduct?
No.
If I were Colin Campbell, however, I'd start with the remaining nine games of the season and then the first four games of the playoffs, in an attempt to check Pronger's disregard for the safety of his fellow athletes.
Think about this: Colin Campbell stated that Chris Simon received a 30-game suspension because he had repeatedly shown an inability to control his own actions.
But doesn't kicking another player, leaving the bench to go after an opponent, and slashing a competitor with the intent to injure display an inability to control one's actions?
Chris Pronger has aptly shown that inability over his career, resulting in eight suspensions—the same as Chris Simon.
What separates them, however, is notoriety.
Why don't you ask Chris Simon how he feels about that?
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5 months ago
haha I just wrote an article about the same thing.
5 months ago
Pronger is one of the biggest jerks in the NHL, my good friend is an Intern for the Coyotes and says anytime the Ducks play and people try to interview Pronger he is one of the biggest jerks in the NHL. I think he should've gotten 10 game or more not a single digit suspension. He is a joke, only reason his points are always high each year for a defenseman is because he plays on the powerplay other than that he isnt much. If he wasnt so tall nobody would know who he was or when he was even on the ice. What a joke Pronger is
5 months ago
thanks, you have a good article here as well.
5 months ago
chris simon must be wondering what s going on?! seriously...just 8 games despite what he did, its just another NHL joke like any other!
5 months ago
Personally I've always wondered what the big deal was about Pronger. He's never impressed me with his play and I think he's a bully who can get away with far too much. The one image I have of him is seeing him deliver a vicious hit and then skate away laughing. That says it all right there.
Good article.
5 months ago
Excellent article. It's not about being a Pronger hater as some would say. It's about the NHL setting a precedent for the type of offense he committed and then chickening out of administering the same punishment for an exactly the same act for a star player.
The explanation that Pronger's offense was different and is not as bad as what Simon did is the biggest load of crock. It doesn't matter what Kesler was doing. The fact is that Pronger stomped on his leg, which is exactly what Simon did to Ruutu. The act of stomping had absolutely nothing to do with the act of freeing himself from Kesler's foot squeeze. At that point Pronger already freed himself and could have just skated away, but he elected to stomp on a prone player.
I think that Simon's 30 game suspension was too long, but since it set a precedent and Pronger's actions were exactly the same he should have been suspended for the exact same amount of time, which would be devastating to Anaheim because he would be gone for the rest of the regular season and the playoffs.
Pronger's suspensions during last season's playoffs were a complete joke. He put players out of the playoffs with serious head injuries and got 1 game for each. Absolutely ludicrous. He now feels like he's untouchable and can do whatever he pleases. No one can punish him on the ice because he's just too big and tough (it's not like someone can kick his ass) and the league doesn't have the balls to nail him with a suspension that matters.
Simon is 100% right to say that there is a total double standard.
5 months ago
The NHL is constantly looking to improve its image but by giving Pronger an 8-game suspension after "new footage" is found, makes it look like some penny-ante league. He shoulda' got 30.
5 months ago
I definitely dont think Pronger should've gotten 30 games because Simon got 30 because of his reputation and history of dirty hits and plays, but pronger definitely should've gotten double digit game suspension.
5 months ago
Kind of agree with Ian here. Simon has a pretty well documented history of thuggery. Granted, there's some of that in Pronger's resume as well... but not to the level Simon has had.
That being said, I think Pronger is lucky to have only gotten 8 games. Like many in these comments, I have long felt he was a bit dirtier player than the media made him out to be. His reputation has been more clean than it should have been. Probably, that will change now.
So hard, though, if you're the league... to determine intent. An accident and a malicious act can look exactly the same.
5 months ago
That's the hard part, determining intent. If the league does determine there is intent to injure, it should implement an automatic 20-game suspesion, perhaps?
5 months ago
Totally.
But it's nearly impossible to determine intent to injure. Discovering someone's intentions is always going to be a subjective thing.
5 months ago
What the league should do, in order to put this type of thing behind them, is develop standardized punishments. A set list would take too long for all sides to agree upon. So there will always be inequities.
5 months ago
yeah, how convenient that Pronger gets to come back, just-in-time for the playoffs? What a joke.
Great piece here. I agree 100%
5 months ago
Pronger has been one of the top defensemen in the league for quite some time. And I agree that the league took this into consideration when figuring out this suspension, as they should've.
His past history included big hits on opponents. The elbowing suspensions he recieved last year was a case of him simply being a foot taller. If you watch the footage of those hits, he keeps his elbow tucked, thrusts with his shoulder and only upon the follow through does the elbow come up.
His past history does not include racial slurs and criminal acts with a deadly weapon.
Chris Simon is not a good hockey player. Never was, never will be. The NHL's decision reflects that.
Simon is probably right to think there is a double standard. Now, I am the biggest Chris Simon hater in the world, but he still has no right to complain about anything. He should worry about keeping himself out of jail and staying on the ice as long as he can.
Though it would make for great hockey theatre if the Wild and Ducks (two teams that probably hate each other more than anyone else in the league) met again in the postseason.
There is no doubt in my mind this is the only reason the Wild obtained the Navaho Knucklehead from Long Island for a bucket of used pucks. They want to get him all hopped up on something and send him after Ryan Getzlaf. I hope Pronger steps in again and throws another famous elbow.
It would be poetic justice at it's best.
from 5 months ago
Hey, please don't call him the Navajo Knucklehead. For one thing, he's Ojibwe, and for another, those sorts of nicknames really are not acceptable, ESPECIALLY to those of us who are native.
from 4 months ago
I realize this article is old and I am just now commenting, but that whole he's taller crap could provide fertilizer for all of America's farmers for a year. You say to look at the replays for last year's play-off hits, have you? I have the hit on Holmstrom on my HD-DVR and little sissy Chrissy started the hit bent down with his arms and elbows at waist level and delivered the hit upwards into the head and even lifted up as if to leave his feet. His height had nothing to do with it. If height was the issue why does Zdeno Chara not have a bunch of suspensions for hits to the head?
You go on to mention the difference in skill level of Pronger and Simon, well glad you mentioned it, to me and any reasonable person a more skilled player should be able to make the big hits without the occasional elbows to the head. A players skill and 'stardom' should have no bearing on disciplinary action. History of previous actions should yes but not history of awards and status. If anything the skill and fame should make a player all the more responsible for playing the game cleanly.
5 months ago
Nicely written article though. It's funny because I agree to an extent. I just refuse to defend Simon. Ever.
haha
5 months ago
Great article!!!! I agree 100% on all points. 8 games is not enough. If the league is striving towards any sort of credibilty this was 2 steps WAY back.
5 months ago
Pronger is a douche that has been carrying out deliberate actions to hurt other players in the league for years now. Since last year's playoffs I can't really come up with a response to that. The guy is just as much of a thug as any other notorious bruisers in league history, he just goes about it in different ways rather than dropping the gloves. This also makes him more dangerous.
Prior offences as a factor in punishment is something that doesn't sit right with me. A stomp is a stomp is a stomp, regardless of who does it. Hockey is the only team sport I can think of right now that gives blades to everyone that plays it. Everyone has also seen what can happen when someone is cut with them. I don't think giving someone their walking papers for the remainder of a season (be it September or May) for something like this is beyond reasonable.
There's enough going on in a hockey game that makes players keep their heads up. The last thing they should be worried about is asshats like Pronger doing the things that he does. 8 games, what a joke. The league's disciplinary committee should have trouble looking at a mirror for ths one.
5 months ago
Reputation. Reputation. Reputation. Pronger and the other thugs that wear a Duck on their sweaters bring this on themselves. There is nothing wrong with a clean hit or a good fight. But when the entire strategy is to physically beat an opponent into submission, don't be surprised when the league dispenses its own cross check.
5 months ago
8 games was just not enough. The NHL made changes in-order to speed up the game, protect their players, bigger audience, and of course more ticket sales. How can they let him get away with only 8 games? Maybe Colin Campbell was watching a different video than us but he def should of have been suspended into the playoffs. Nicely written
5 months ago
I find it funny that he's able to come back right when the playoffs start. Hmm....
Great article, once again.
5 months ago
Chris Pronger is an embarrassment to the game and to Canada
5 months ago
Great synopsis. We are talking about a repeat offender--he has more suspensions/year than Simon, although I will admit they are a BIT less egregious. In fact, that whole team plays dirty--Pronger is only the third dirtiest player on the Ducks (who in their right mind lets Bertuzzi back?), and the style has even spread to their scorers like Kunitz, who took a cheap shot at Cheechoo Friday 'cause he was sore they were getting DOMINATED! Pronger should have missed half as many as Simon for the same offense, but even if they gave him all nine regular season games, he has to get back in the flow IN the play-offs.
By the way, your profile and mine read very similarly...
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