The St. Louis Blues have announced that they will retire the number of Hall-of-Fame defenceman Chris Pronger. Pronger was one of the best skaters in the history of the organization; his presence with the Blues has more than earned him a spot in the rafters. The legend’s number will be retired midway through the 2021-22 season. St. Louis announced the event Friday morning.
SAVE THE DATE! No. 44 will be raised to the rafters on Jan. 17, 2022. https://t.co/RpusaohT7R
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) August 20, 2021
Blues Retire Number of Chris Pronger
Pronger was easily one of the most iconic and dominant players during his ears with the Blues. He played on the Blues’ roster from 1995-2004. The Dryden, Ontario native posted 84 goals and 356 points in 598 games over nine seasons. While those numbers may not be eye-catching to modern fans, it’s important to note that Pronger skated in an era full of suffocating defence and goaltending. Defenders also didn’t have the same offensive responsibilities they do now. Despite the circumstances, he still managed to post at least 46 points five times from the blueline.
The Hartford Whalers originally drafted Pronger second overall in the 1993 Draft, but traded him to St. Louis after just two seasons in exchange for Brendan Shanahan. Pronger spend the longest amount of time with the Blues, but he ultimately appeared for five different franchises including the Anaheim Ducks and Philadelphia Flyers at the end of his career. Pronger was an all star four times and won both the Norris and Hart Trophies in 1999-00. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015.
Why Retiring Chris Pronger’s Number is Important
There is rarely a wrong time to retire a number. Still, it’s been a while since Chris Pronger played for the Blues. He left the franchise after the 2003-04 season and his coveted championship came with Anaheim during the 2006-07 season. With that said, Pronger is an iconic Blue who remains near the top of the franchise leaderboard in several categories. Some fans may not appreciate what he accomplished in the 1990s and early 2000s, but it was a great career to those who remember it.
Main Photo:Embed from Getty Images
