It was pure Pronger.

Classic back-and-forth, verbal sparring with the media.

Are you the best defenseman in the NHL, someone from NHL.com asked.

"I plan to be," came Chris Pronger's response.

Chuck Gormley asked a series of questions about how Pronger had to refine or change his game to "survive" the new rules in the NHL. The very instant Chuckles rolled the word "survive" off his tongue, Pronger interjected.

“Not survive," he said. "Adapt. Use the proper terms here."

We talked about suspensions. Pronger acted surprised.

"What!" as if he never heard the word. Eight or nine times.

So where will you draw the line as a Flyer on the ice. Pronger had to think about that one.

“I guess we’ll have to find out," he replied. "At the end of the day, there are lot of gray areas in the rulebook and each referee calls it a certain way and sees a different game. You got to know them.

"It gets a little harder each passing year as more senior officials retire. We’ve got new referees you got to understand and get to know. I think it took me a long time to get to know the senior officials.

"And have a better rapport with them. I’m a little more calmer on the ice and laid back to some degree and able to have a real conversation with the referees sometimes and understand where they’re coming from.

"And they can understand where I’m coming from. It’s a little more of a partnership with the league and the officials and what not. I’m sure there will be times when it gets a little heated the wrong thing comes out of my mouth. That comes with experience."

I thought the best line was about his jersey. He was supposed to wear #25 which he wore in Anaheim (#44 to Rob Niedermayer). But Pronger discussed it with his kids and then came up an idea. No. 20.

“My dad wore it back in senior hockey back home. So I thought I’d change it up again," he said.

Did you get some of your hockey skills from your dad?

“I hope not," he shot back. "You obviously haven’t seen him play. I took his number, not his game.”

This is what it's going to be like with Pronger. He sorta reminds me of Derian Hatcher, JR and even Rick Tocchet, in terms of sparring with the media.

It's never dull with the Flyers. And it won't be this coming season, either.

One of my questions concerned coming out of the lockout. He had a year left on his deal and St. Louis wanted to move him and his agent, Pat Morris, wanted him in Philly, but the Flyers were tendering FA offers to Hatcher and Mike Rathje.

There was a window of opportunity for Pronger to become a Flyer. It closed quickly. Did he ever wonder whether it would happen?

“I don’t think you can ever say never," Pronger said. "I probably never thought I’d play in Anaheim, either. Things happen for a reason. A lot of things come full circle. It took me 13 or 14 years to reunite with Brian Burke, and now 16 years with Paul [Holmgren] here. Everything happens for a reason and you learn a lot of things in life are done for a reason.”


**

Look for the Flyers to revisit Brendan Shanahan again ... On a scale of 1-10, I give it a "5" they sign him. If you've added Pronger and Ian Laperriere, Shanny is the perfect compliment to adding more defensive responsibility on the puck.

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