TORONTO It seems a silly idea to even consider, given Chris Pronger was just enshrined as one of hockeys greatest defensemen of all time. But among a Hall of Fame full of players who in some way paved the way for future stars, Pronger marked the end of a legacy of others. MORE: | There wont be another Chris Pronger. And not in the way that stars may not align to create another perfect human like Nicklas Lidstrom, or that there might not be another foreign superstar to smash old perceptions like Sergei Fedorov. A guy like Pronger, a monster truck of a defenseman whose all-around skill and methods of intimidation were equally Hall Kosuke Fukudome Jersey of Fame-caliber, just doesnt and wont exist in an NHL thats evolved to phase out Prongers brand of terror. He had an uncanny ability to put up numbers and he would do it when hes playing 30 minutes a game, fellow 2015 inductee and defenseman Phil Housley said. He could sneak into plays, he would know when to pop into those holes and he was such a great pa ser. Everything was on the tape, even from his own end and thats a great way to start on offense in your own end. He could break down forechecks and then be a little bit dirty in front of the net and nobody goes there and keep the goals out. In that list of all the things that made Pronger great, theres certainly still room in todays game for all but one. The cla sification of, a little bit dirty, mightve been more of an indication of how good of a mood everyone is in during the Hall of Fame festivities. Theres always room for a guy like Chris Pronger, Hall of Fame defenseman Paul Coffey said. He couldve played in the 1910s or 2020s; hes a big, strong, tough, puck-moving defenseman, hes really smart, aggre sive. He could play in any era. And there are shades of Pronger in some of todays most notable defensemen. Duncan Keith in Chicago, Shea Weber in Nashville, Zdeno Chara in Boston and Victor Hedman in Tampa are all big, skilled defensemen with varying degrees of a mean streak. But like Chris Pronger in this case really means to fall short by comparison. Thats not to say current and future defensemen wouldnt be capable of using hooking, holding, cro s-checking, bulldozing and general scarine s to elevate their skill game the way Pronger did. The game just doesnt allow for that anymore. I think the rule changes have changed the demeanor of players, Hall of Fame defenseman Larry Murphy said. It seems like the game, theres a lot le s nastine s in the game now that was a part of the game. Intimidation was a big part, but now with the rule changes its kind of different. A guy like Chris Pronger, I dont know who you would compare him to, if theres anyone who plays the game like he did. He was such a force, a physical, intimidating force. By the end of his career, his brutal style had taken its toll, and its still lingering. He is still under contract with the Coyotes, so he hasnt officially retired but he stopped playing three years ago because of health i sues. He was the only player out of the five inducted in 2015 to not participate in the Hall of Fame alumni game on Sunday. Instead he was behind the bench. Naturally, its Pronger whos been charged with helping to clean up the games nastine s as the NHLs director of player safety. Its a role he embraces as the NHL looks for ways to improve the sport for players and fans, though the idea of no more Pronger-type players coming up behind him gave him a good laugh. You still need hard-nosed, edgy players, the goalies still need to see the puck, Pronger said. That gray line might have to move a little lower, but yeah. The game isnt played like that anymore. Its changed drastically over the last five years for the better." Rowan Wick Jersey