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After rule clarification, Pronger to be eligible for Hall of Fame next year

Chris Pronger press conference

While it was largely expected Chris Pronger would be eligible for the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2015, the organization essentially made it official on Tuesday by clarifying its three-year waiting period bylaw.

From ESPN:

“The new by-law imposes a more objective test for the three-year eligibility rule applicable to player candidates, in particular, resolving possible ambiguity as to the nomination of a player who has not played for more than three years due to injury, but who is still under contract and continues to receive compensation that counts for salary cap purposes or otherwise,” Jeff Denomme, president and CEO of the Hockey Hall of Fame, told ESPN.com via email Tuesday following the conclusion of the board of directors meeting.

This means Pronger will be eligible for Hall of Fame induction should the selection committee choose to nominate him next April ahead of the June vote.

Denomme also stressed the fact that this isn’t just about Pronger, but that there could be other players moving forward who are in a similar circumstance and the HHOF board doesn’t feel it should be concerned with medical or contractual issues when it comes to determining induction eligibility, which is why the board chose to clear up the by-law Tuesday.

Pronger hasn’t played since November 2011 due to post-concussion syndrome, but remains on Philadelphia’s roster so the club can continue to get salary cap relief. He was in the headlines recently after taking a job with the NHL’s Department of Player Safety, further confirming that his playing days are over.

Related: Poll: Who should be in the 2015 Hockey Hall of Fame class?