Pronger Still Sour With Red Wings Yzerman Over Torn ACL

Decades later, Chris Pronger is still disgruntled with Detroit Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman.

It would be wrong to categorize Pronger as holding a grudge against Yzerman over the latter’s low-bridge hit in the 2002 Stanley Cup playoffs at St. Louis that left Pronger with a torn ACL.

Definitely, Pronger is still bitter about the entire affair.

“He tore my ACL and I missed a whole year,” Pronger was explaining during a recent appearance on the Cam And Strick podcast.

Chris Pronger on Steve Yzerman hit that tore his acl. #Stlblues #LGRW ⁦@CamandStrick⁩ pic.twitter.com/0GGBNRkEPD

— Andy Strickland (@andystrickland) June 4, 2024

The episode would unfold during Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinal series between Pronger’s St. Louis Blues and the Red Wings. Pronger was closing in on Yzerman along the boards, seeking to deliver some punishment.

“I had him lined up,” Pronger said.

Spying the fast approaching St. Louis defenseman, Yzerman ducked down low, sending Pronger spilling over him, causing the tear to the ACL in Pronger’s right knee.

May 9 2002

Chris Pronger tore his acl while attempting to hit Steve Yzerman of the Detroit Red Wings.

Cameo appearance by St Louis Blues Asst Coach Mike Van Ryn.#stlblues pic.twitter.com/CnAeM6dUEE

— STL Blues History (@STLBlueshistory) May 9, 2022

“He stepped up at the blue line and tried to hit me and I saw him coming,” was Yzerman’s explanation of the collision. “I dumped the puck in and was just spinning out the way, trying to get out of the way and falling down.”

“Unfortunately for Chris, he was coming at me and ran right into my rear end.”

Yzerman Would Later Apologize To Pronger

The injury occurred on May 9, 2002. Pronger wouldn’t play again until March 29, 2003. As fate would have it, the visitors on that night in St. Louis were Yzerman and the Red Wings.

“When I came back the next year late in the year, I was gonna get him,” Pronger remembered. “I came back and we were playing them and we were in a line brawl.

The third period of Detroit’s 6-2 victory would feature 219 minutes in penalties. This would be Pronger’s chance for revenge.

“Who do I grab?” Pronger said.” He’s right there. And all I hear is kids screaming at me, ‘no, don’t do it,’ because they didn’t want me to kill him.

“I grabbed him but I didn’t do anything.”

In the end, common sense came of the forefront of Pronger’s mind. Yzerman, after all, was only in his 13th game back from his own serious knee surgery, an osteotomy.

“He was dealing with his own knee issues,” Pronger said.

Plus, he had sought to make amends during the offseason.

“He apologized,” Pronger said. “He called me in the summer.

“Do I think he was trying to blow my ACL out? No. Do I think he did it on purpose? No.

“He went low on purpose. I don’t think he went low into me on purpose.”