The Florida Panthers hired Chris Pronger as a Senior Advisor to the President of Hockey Operations on Thursday.
Pronger is a former NHL Most Valuable Player and will bring with him a wealth of knowledge of experience. The 42-year old is also a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. Pronger's last action on the ice came in 2011, but he remained under contract as a player through the 2016-17 season.
"I like to hire smarter people than myself, to make myself look smarter," said Florida's hockey operations president Dale Tallon. "I've gotten to know him for the last four or five years. He's got a lot to say. He doesn't sugarcoat it. I like his approach. I like his knowledge. He's opinionated and we like a staff that has that in them."
Pronger's playing career ended due to post-concussion issues and a right-eye injury. During his storied career, Pronger was known for his high-energy play and his fearlessness on the ice. The defenceman was a dominant force among his peers and served as team captain during his final season.
"I'm excited to have the opportunity to work with and learn from an executive with the track record that Dale has," Pronger said. "I'm looking forward to doing everything I can to help the Panthers work towards winning the Stanley Cup."
Florida has been busy adding former players to the front office. Shawn Thornton took on a role as vice president of business operations earlier this off-season. Bryan McCabe is also a member of the executive team as he serves as director of player development.
Pronger's addition to the front office, comes just a day after two significant on-ice losses. Florida saw Jonathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith both head to the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday.
