Flyers - Injury report

After a bruising, 23-game playoff run, a few of the Flyers needed offseason surgery to completely recover. Here's an update on their status:

CHRIS PRONGER

Pronger, who turns 36 next month, had surgery in late July to "remove loose bodies" in his right knee. He is not expected to participate in many training-camp activities. Pronger has been at the Skate Zone rehabbing for a few weeks and skated briefly Wednesday for the first time since the surgery. Last season, Pronger averaged an unnecessary 26:42 in ice time in the preseason before going on to play 2,794 minutes and 12 seconds in 105 regular-season and playoff games — more than anyone in the NHL. His status for the Oct. 7 opener is uncertain. Until then, Matt Walker and Sean O'Donnell will use his spot to battle for the sixth and seventh roster spots on defense.

VILLE LEINO

Leino, 26, had surgery in early July to repair a nagging hip injury. After a few weeks on crutches and a copious amount of rehab, Leino is skating well and will be close to 100 percent as training camp begins today. "I'm close,'' Leino said Tuesday.

BLAIR BETTS

Betts, the Flyers' top penalty killer, hopes the third right shoulder surgery of his 8-year pro career will do the trick. This procedure, performed in July, was to repair a painful dislocation that kept him off the ice at times last season. "I'm pretty close to being back to normal," Betts said. Betts noted that he should be cleared for contact drills today for the first on-ice practice tomorrow. That will be the real test. "You can sometimes tell its strength in the weight room but the only real way to test it is to throw yourself out there," Betts said.

JOHAN BACKLUND

Backlund, 29, planned to enter training camp and compete for the backup goalie job with Brian Boucher. Instead, Backlund likely will not see any time in camp because of offseason hip surgery. The procedure repaired the nagging injury that caused him to leave his only NHL start in Pittsburgh on March 27. Backlund just started going down in his butterfly position in on-ice drills this week.

OTHER INJURIES

Forward Dan Carcillo, who re-signed on July 13, had offseason abdominal surgery but is back to full health ... Phantoms defenseman Kevin Marshall had offseason hip surgery and has started skating, but will be held out of most drills and games. — Frank Seravalli