Pronger given green light to skate

Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger, who had a CT scan of his foot taken on Tuesday, was re-examined by Dr. Steven Raikin on Wednesday.

Pronger was given permission to resume light skating on his own starting Thursday, while the Flyers are in New Jersey for a 7 o'clock matchup with the Devils.

"His foot is healing nicely," general manager Paul Holmgren said. "Chris will be re-evaluated on Jan. 12."

Pronger had two screws surgically inserted in his foot on Dec. 17 after blocking a shot in Montreal. He was at the Skate Zone on Wednesday again rehabbing.

There is no timetable for his return - and though there is a noticeable hole in the Flyers' defense without him - Pronger may end up taking his time coming back. He said he would use the All-Star break (Jan. 27-Feb. 1) to his advantage if necessary.

A lot, too, depends on how the Flyers continue to do without him.

As Flyers assistant coach Kevin McCarthy said earlier in the season, "a Chris Pronger at 75 percent is better than most guys at 100 percent."

Pronger, 36, has 4 goals and 11 assists for 15 points in 31 games. The Flyers are 4-3-1 without Pronger in the lineup this season and 3-3-0 during this current stretch without him. He missed the first two games of the season coming back from offseason knee surgery.

For the latest updates, follow Frank Seravalli on Twitter: @DNFlyers