Chris Pronger Shares Biggest Hurdle He Faced After Overcoming The Same Setback As Damar Hamlin

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There was really no way to prepare for the terrifying scene that unfolded when Damar Hamlin suddenly collapsed onto the field during the first quarter of the showdown between the Bills and the Bengals in Week 17.

Thankfully, the medical personnel who rushed to his aid wasted no time springing into action before successfully reviving the Buffalo safety and rushing him to the hospital in the wake of the incident that’s been linked to the cardiac ailment known as “commotio cordis.”

Hamlin’s setback was eerily reminiscent of a similarly awful moment that transpired during the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 1998 when St. Louis Blues defenseman Chris Pronger crumpled onto the ice shortly after he was struck in the chest by a slap shot that had been fired at the net by Red Wings forward Dmitri Mironov.

On Wednesday, Pronger (who referenced that scary moment when he wished Hamlin the best earlier this month) shed some more light on what he endured close to 25 years ago in a Twitter thread where he did a very deep dive into the immediate aftermath and some of the issues he found himself facing after his heart briefly stopped beating on the ice.

It’s hard to believe Pronger was able to return to the ice less than 48 hours later (although he admitted that may not have been the smartest move in hindsight despite ultimately emerging unscathed). However, overcoming the physical adversity was just the beginning of the battle, as he also admitted he had to overcome some pretty significant mental hurdles before deciding he was in a place to play.

Hamlin will have a bit more time to process his situation now that Buffalo’s season is officially over, and while there’s no telling what the future holds for him, it seems like Pronger would be the perfect guy to talk to if he has any pressing questions.