Chris Pronger Last Quotations

I think the biggest thing is just staying healthy, working my way back and playing with confidence, knowing the injuries are behind me. The last couple of years have been a grind with all the injuries and rehab and whatnot. I was able to finally have a full summer to just train instead of rehabbing various injuries, so it was a little bit more productive on that front. It was a lot more fun than rehabbing.

I think with the way everything went down last year and how we finished the season in the playoffs, it was definitely disappointing for everyone, not just the goalies. I think Ozzie went home with the mindset of coming back and proving himself. And I think Brent had the same idea. I think everybody here is looking for big things from both of those guys.

Al did such a great job as captain last year. I need to focus and concentrate on helping this team win hockey games. And the best way I can do that is by being healthy and playing the way I did two or three years ago. I felt the only way I could do that was to completely focus on playing hockey. Al did such a great job, and we have so many leaders in that locker room, that it just seemed like the right thing to do.

If you look at the last couple compared to today, there's a tremendous amount of improvement on a lot of different fronts. Our tracking back through the neutral zone, and just trying to get the pucks in deep and trying to play smart Canadian hockey, getting in and being physical, we did it to a tee in the first period.

The last few games against them, we've played a lot better and have been able to match their intensity. It's up to us to answer the bell for 60 minutes.