Chris Pronger is not looking for sympathy. He just wants to feel like himself again.
Through his first seven games this season after having his right knee surgically repaired in the offseason, Pronger hasn't been, well, Pronger.
While you would not be able to tell on the stat sheet - Pronger's plus/minus is 3 - he doesn't quite look like the stalwart who guided the Flyers to the Stanley Cup finals last season. He acknowledged yesterday that his knee still isn't at 100 percent.
"Did anyone say I was 100 percent?" Pronger asked. "I don't think I've ever said I was 100 percent."
Pronger, 36, missed the first two games of the season, nursing the injury, but was back for the Flyers' home opener against Colorado.
Even though the situation is not ideal, Pronger is dealing with the injury as best he can. He was quick to acknowledge his game isn't where he wants it to be at this point.
But it's still early.
"I don't know where it was supposed to be at this point," Pronger said. "I think every day it's getting a little bit better and a little bit stronger. I'm skating, trying to move around more and trying to do a little bit more.
"Some days, I need to take maintenance days. It feels better some days than others."
Pronger was on the ice for the Blue Jackets' first goal in Monday's 2-1 loss to Columbus, when Chris Clark and Kyle Wilson both released shots from within 10 feet of Brian Boucher.
Assistant coach Kevin McCarthy, who handles the Flyers' defense, notices a difference in Pronger's game. McCarthy was also an assistant coach in Hartford for Pronger's rookie year in 1993-94.
"It doesn't matter who you are, if you miss training camp, it's tough to just step right into a season," McCarthy said. "He hasn't been able to train the way he's used to training. You take those two equations, and with any hockey player, it's going to be tough to play the way that you want."
Pronger averaged 21:36 in ice time through his first seven games, down about 5 1/2 minutes from his career average of 27 minutes per game. And it's not because the Flyers are trying to save him for the postseason or he wants to work 18 percent less.
