The question left to be answered is, is this the piece that the Flyers needed to win themselves a Stanley Cup? Well the 2008-09 version of the Flyers finished the regular season with a 44-27-11 record which earned them 82 points which was good enough for fifth seed in the eastern Conference. The Flyers then went on to lose in the first round to eventual Stanley Cup Champions the Pittsburgh Penguins.

It is important to note that the flyers also got the rights to 24 year old center Ryan Dingle in this deal, but let us take a look at what they are getting in Pronger.

Pronger is a 34 year old 6’6” 221 pound defenseman who has played in the NHL since 1993. He has played for the St. Louis Blues, Edmonton Oilers, and the Anaheim Ducks. He was the MVP of the NHL is 1999-2000 season and won a Stanley Cup with the Ducks in 2007.

Flyers General Manager had this to say, “I made it sort of clear myself, would I like to get a hammer, a guy who makes life miserable for the other team…  this is one of those guys.”

It is also important to note that Pronger is due to make 6.25 million dollars next season, and is in the final year of his contract. The Flyers will have some work to do to fit this contract under the NHL salary cap due to be 56.8 million dollars. It is also quite possible that Pronger’s trip to Philly will be short term only; the Flyer may have just “rented” Pronger for a run at the cup in the upcoming season.

“He’s a proven winner, the size, how he passes the puck, and he’s an ideal fit for this team,” Holmgren added.

Pronger had this to say, “I’m very excited.  It’s obviously a city that’s very passionate for the sport of hockey.  The style of the play that the Flyers have been known to play certainly fits my game.  They’ve got some great young talent and I hope to help not only develop the team into being regarded as one of the top teams in the league, but winning a Stanley Cup.”

Pronger seems to think hat he could be that missing piece he added, “I’d like to think so, but I don’t really know a whole lot about the team right now.  I’ve seen them play a few times in the playoffs, and I like what they have up front.  I think they’ve got a good core group of defensemen on the back end.”

In the end only time will show us if this is the deal that led the Flyers to a Stanley Cup Championship, but one thing remains certain they are a much better team with Pronger than without.