Electrophile 3,554 Report post Posted January 13, 2009 I'd take Pronger over any one of our defensemen in his prime. This is the funniest thing I've ever read. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PuckFace 1 Report post Posted January 13, 2009 I don't think Pronger is a bad ANYMORE like most people think. Yea he does do ****** bag things but until he bites someone I'll still think the way I do lol. Hell, have people forgotten about how bad Cheli was with going after knees? Even Cheli cam out and said that he bit a guy in a fight that was trying to gouge his eyes. But I will say yes, Pronger does like to give guys the elbow. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SouthernWingsFan 854 Report post Posted January 13, 2009 I don't think Pronger is a bad ANYMORE like most people think. Yea he does do ****** bag things but until he bites someone I'll still think the way I do lol. Hell, have people forgotten about how bad Cheli was with going after knees? Even Cheli cam out and said that he bit a guy in a fight that was trying to gouge his eyes. But I will say yes, Pronger does like to give guys the elbow. I have little doubt that in the grand scheme of things, Pronger is a good guy. Wouldn't mind having a beer or two with him in all likelihood. He's one of the better defensemen in the league, no doubt. However, hist WTF moments really stand out, and not in a good way for him personally. There have been a handful that we won't forget anytime soon and he seems to have more of these than a lot of other players in the league. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
haroldsnepsts 4,826 Report post Posted January 13, 2009 A few differences: Cheli was Gordie Howe dirty, in the corners close s***. Pronger is Chris Simon dirty, stepping on people, elbows to the face with distance, not right under your chin, 'three feet away and skating' distance. Cheli played in a much more physical era of Hockey in his prime than Pronger's prime. Cheli would answer for any of his transgressions from any one, not just an enforcer on another shift, some one then and there would take care of what he did. Biggest difference: The definition of dirty has changed and the league has cracked down on a lot of the things cheli did, slashes, spears, butt ending, ... the stuff in the corners. Cheli then changed his game, coincidently just as he got a little older and less full of piss and vinegar. The league has cracked down on Pronger's type of actions, stomping, elbowing, head hunting, however they have cracked down harder on others than they have Pronger. Even if the other offense happened before his and set a precedence. I guess you haven't seen the clip I've posted of Cheli's flying elbow on Propp from his Montreal days. I would agree that one thing that has changed is the league and its discipline on such cheapshots. I still don't think Cheli and Pronger were that different. And honestly Pronger isn't much of a fighter, but I haven't seen him walk away from a battle. One of my favorite Cheli stories is him challenging Keith Jones to a postgame fight in the runway to the lockerroom because Cheli thought Jones threw a dirty hit on him during the game. He then called Jones a coward for going to the press instead of taking the fight. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HOCKEY MATTERS 167 Report post Posted January 13, 2009 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Konnan511 1,736 Report post Posted January 13, 2009 Best. Reply. Ever. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest micah Report post Posted January 13, 2009 (edited) Cheli played in a much more physical era of Hockey in his prime than Pronger's prime. Cheli would answer for any of his transgressions from any one, not just an enforcer on another shift, some one then and there would take care of what he did. Nope. Goons did come calling, but Chelios was far too cowardly to actually fight them. Do you not remember him taking multiple shots at Yzerman, then cowering like a little girl when Probert came after him? It was laughable and disgusting at the same time, Cheli hanging on to Probie's sweater cuffs as if his whole life depended on it. Chelios was not an extremely physical player in the Stevens sence, he was a dirty player in the Ulf sammuelsson sense. Knee hits, slashes and other stickwork behind the play, cowering like a child when tough guys wanted him to stand up for his cowardly actions. Also, very skilled and effective as a defenceman when he wasn't taking stupid penalties. That's the Chelios I grew up watching. A lot like Pronger, except an even worse, less willing fighter. I do agree that the league has changed, and that if a prime Chelios were playing today, he would be suspended indefinately. He was dirtier than Pronger ever was. If Chelios were as big or strong as Pronger is, he would have really been dangerous. Edited January 13, 2009 by micah Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
