FanHouse Chris Pronger

FanHouse's Christopher Botta reports from Flyers training camp

VOORHEES, NJ -- Attention, Eastern contenders: Chris Pronger has not returned to the conference with the intention of coasting through the back half of his 30s.

"I feel better than I ever have," Pronger told FanHouse on Monday after a long day at training camp. "I'm more hungry to win than I've ever been."

By winning, he doesn't mean just qualifying for the playoffs. "I don't play for second place," he said.

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FanHouse begins its four-part preview of the upcoming NHL season. Check back every Thursday from now until opening night for the rest.

The calendar has flipped past Labor Day in the States, and that means the start of the NHL's regular season is fast approaching. We're going to take one last look back at the summer and discuss the best and worst moves -- in some cases, non-moves -- of the offseason. Who took a step in the right direction and who took a step back?

FanHouse's Adam Gretz takes a look at his top 50 players in the NHL. No. 17 is Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger.

You can question how much the Philadelphia Flyers were willing to give up to acquire Chris Pronger at this year's NHL draft (Joffrey Lupul, Luca Sbisa and two first-round picks), and you can also question the sanity of the seven-year contract extension they signed him to a few weeks later (the NHL certainly is).

Something that's difficult to question? How much he and the city of Philadelphia are a perfect fit for one another, and how much better he makes the Flyers, at least for the next couple of seasons.

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It was only a matter of time until it came to this, but the NHL is reportedly looking into the long-term contracts given to Marian Hossa and Chris Pronger this offseason. Bruce Garrioch originally reported on Friday morning that the league was investigating whether or not the Blackhawks and Hossa had worked out, or discussed, the possibility of an early retirement, which would clear Hossa's salary cap hit off the books in the future. Hossa signed a 12-year, $62.5 million deal with Chicago on the first day of free agency after spending one season with the Detroit Red Wings.

Garrioch quotes an NHL executive as saying that the league is looking to put a damper on these types of deals, and that "they are building a strong case against Chicago to make an example of them. This issue won't just go away. Lots of other GMs are supporting the league here."

One general manager that's probably not supporting the league? Paul Holmgren of the Philadelphia Flyers.

Hockey fans can start making their plans. The NHL released the 2009-2010 regular season schedule Wednesday afternoon.

You can view each team's schedule here. We'll look at some of the more intriguing matchups after the jump.

The Philadelphia Flyers raised quite a few eyebrows at the NHL draft when they acquired defenseman Chris Pronger from the Anaheim Ducks. It was a bold move, and one that solidified the Flyers as a contender for the Stanley Cup this season. The concern was that Philadelphia traded away what amounted to three consecutive first-round picks and Joffrey Lupul, for what appeared to be one year of a soon-to-be 35-year-old Pronger.

On Tuesday, the Flyers raised a few more eyebrows when they locked up Pronger to a seven-year contract extension that will reportedly pay him close to $35 million. The key phrases to repeat are "35-year-old" and "seven years."

The Anaheim Ducks still have plenty of veteran presence on their team, despite the trade of defenseman Chris Pronger to Philadelphia.

Captain Scott Niedermayer and forward Teemu Selanne have both said they will return. For Niedermayer, the future is uncertain beyond next season. Selanne, meanwhile, says 2009-2010 will be his last year in the NHL.

The first round of the NHL Draft saw the league's general managers clean out the Swedish cupboard, as seven players from Sweden were selected on Friday night. Massive defenseman Victor Hedman led the way, going to the Tampa Bay Lightning with the No. 2 pick, while Leksand's Oliver Ekman-Larsson went to Phoenix at No. 6.

Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson, projected by many as a top-six pick going in, slipped down to Edmonton with the tenth overall pick, while David Rundbald, Jacob Josefson, Tim Erixon and Marcus Johannson rounded out the Swedish invasion.

After the jump, more thoughts and observations on what happened (and what didn't happen) during the opening round.

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Heading into Friday's NHL draft, all eyes were on Ottawa's Dany Heatley and Tampa Bay's Vincent Lecavalier when it came to potential blockbuster trades. When all was said and done, the first domino to fall was Anaheim sending defenseman Chris Pronger to Philadelphia for Joffrey Lupol, Luca Sbisa, and two first-round picks.

Now that, my friends, is a blockbuster.

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The Anaheim Ducks are slowly getting younger, thanks to dynamic players like Bobby Ryan and Ryan Whitney. Friday's trade of defensive stalwart Chris Pronger hastens the need for the team to rely on young talent.

That said, the defensive corps will still be led by a grizzled, accomplished veteran. Scott Niedermayer's agent has informed the Ducks that their captain will return for an 18th NHL season.