Flyers captain Chris Pronger hasn't played since Nov. 19 because of a virus, but now he'll miss another four weeks after he undergoes surgery on his left knee on Tuesday.
The surgery, which will be performed by Dr. Peter DeLuca, will clean out some loose particles that have been bothering the Flyers' captain for about a month, according to general manager Paul Holmgren.
"He's been playing through it up until this recent bout with the virus," Holmgren said, emphasizing it was the virus, and not the trouble with the knee, that has kept Pronger out of the Flyers' last four games.
The Flyers had been hopeful the time Pronger missed because of his mysterious illness would help "settle things down in his knee," Holmgren said. But after an examination Pronger had on Sunday, the team decided surgery was the best option for their captain.
Pronger and defenseman Andreas Lilja, who sustained a high-ankle sprain in Friday's win over the Montreal Canadiens, will both go on long-term injured reserve in the next day or so, Holmgren said.
In their absence, the Flyers have relied on a pair of rookie defensemen, Marc-Andre Bourdon and Kevin Marshall. Marshall was returned to the Adirondack Phantoms after the Flyers' loss on Saturday, but, for the meantime at least, it seems as though the Flyers will try to stick it out without making a trade.
"I think initially, we'll probably just recall Kevin and try to figure out where we're at at that point," Holmgren said. "Right now that's kind of the way we're leaning."
NHL
Earlier this week, Holmgren said the best-case scenario for Prongers return would be Friday, when the Flyers travel to Anaheim, Calif., to face the Ducks, Prongers former team. On Tuesday, he said that, had an MRI not revealed the issue with Pronger's knee, the defenseman could have returned to the lineup as planned.
Four weeks away from the game places Pronger's return sometime just before the Winter Classic on Jan. 2.
Pronger, who has five years left on his contract, has missed 10 games already this season, and missed 32 last year. But Holmgren isn't worried about the health of his aging captain (Pronger turned 37 last month).
"Any time a player has surgery, there's concern, whether he's an older player like Chris or a younger player," Holmgren said. "But I do think Chris is a player that takes good care of himself, looks after himself, does the proper rehabilitation and conditioning to stay in top shape.
"... The structure of his knee is fine. He's got good cartilage on both sides of that knee, so this is just kind of a maintenance thing more than anything, and to get him a little more comfortable. ... I think Chris has a lot of miles left in his body."
Schenn recalled
Brayden Schenn was in town Monday for a checkup with Flyers doctors, and he won't be going anywhere.
Schenn, who was rehabbing a broken foot with the Adirondack Phantoms, was recalled by the Flyers Tuesday, now that they will be able to afford his 1.76 million salary.
Nodl to waivers
In addition, the Flyers on Monday placed winger Andreas Nodl on waivers.
"Andreas hasnt played as much, well just gauge interest andsee what happens," Holmgren said. "At some point tomorrow, if he clears waivers, well see what weregoing to do with him, if we send him down or just keep him.
"But well decidethat tomorrow after we find out whether hes cleared or not."
If Nodl does clear waivers, the Flyers can send him to the Phantoms, where his 845,000 contract will not count against the cap.
E-mail Sarah Baicker at sbaicker@comcastsportsnet.com