HHOF rules don't require retirement for eligibility. They start their clock from the last game played. So since Pronger hasn't played a game since December 2011 (3 playing seasons elapsed) he's eligible.
Still, in the spirit of what is right, would it have hurt to wait until his contract was up before starting the eligibility? Phil Housley was eligible for 9 years before finally getting inducted.
With this whole business of still being paid under an NHL player contract and also being an employee of the NHL front office, seems like Pronger get to have it all.
The only thing missing would be for what ever team owns his contact in the next two years wins the Stanley Cup and somehow through some loophole gets his name on he cup one more time. This would make him the 1st player to get his name on the cup as a player, after being inducted in the the HHOF and also the 1st NHL front office employee to get his name on the cup as a member of an NHL team. Nothing to see here folks, this is business as usual for the NHL.
What's next? Darcy Tucker being a member of the HHOF membership committee and induct himself, Shayne Corson and Tie Domi?
@KardinalofSCU The HHOF just selected a player still on an active roster for induction. The same HHOF who refused to induct Pat Burns when alive. Nice.
HHOF rules don't require retirement for eligibility. They start their clock from the last game played. So since Pronger hasn't played a game since December 2011 (3 playing seasons elapsed) he's eligible.
Yes... this whole thing is very confusing. He shouldn't be working for the league while still employed by a team. If he wants the office job... retire.
If he's eligible to work for the league, he shouldn't be under contract, he should be forced to retire, and just get it over with.
And if they are going to keep counting him as an active player (albeit on the IR) HE CAN'T BE IN THE HALL OF FAME!!!
There is something VERY fishy going on with this situation.
Has the NHL ever done something or not done something that just made you say WTF NHL !! Well this is the forum for that.
Today the NHL announced the 2015 Hockey Hall of Fame inductees. Among the inductees is Chris Pronger.
The same Chris Pronger who is still earning his player salary for this upcoming season and next. The same Chris Pronger who is also a NHL employee in the Department of Player Safety (that is a WTF NHL all by itself). The same Chris Pronger who got his contract traded to Arizona so they can make the cap floor.
WTF NHL !!
If Pronger is still earning his player's salary, then he is not retired. If Pronger is eligible to get traded from one NHL team to another, then he is not retired. If Pronger is not retired then he cannot be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
These are the same morons who did not induct Pat Burns when he was still alive and had the opportunity to do so. Yet they induct Pronger who should not be eligible yet.
