PHILADELPHIA - Like moths attracted to light, reporters gather around Philadelphia Flyers defenceman Chris Pronger to listen to his usual clever repartee about everything hockey, fully prepared to be played by the combative big man.

When a visiting reporter mentioned the name of Edmonton Oilers rookie Taylor Hall, and how it would have been nice to see the Oilers and Flyers battle on Tuesday night with the first pick in the 2010 NHL entry draft on the ice, Pronger claimed he didn’t know that Hall’s season was over.

Hall suffered a left ankle sprain last Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Rexall Place. An MRI on Friday determined he was done playing for the rest of the season.

“He’s not playing? How would I know? asked Pronger. “You know I don’t keep up on that stuff. You know I don’t read the papers, bud,” said the former Edmonton Oilers defenceman.

Speaking from experience, Pronger has a keen awareness of what’s going on with him and most likely knows what’s going on in other NHL precincts. But the 2007 Stanley Cup winner with the Anaheim Ducks and two-time Cup finalist — Oilers in ’06 and last season with the Flyers — plays a game within the game.

Pronger is the best one-touch passer in the game, but he loves to stickhandle around various topics.

“I would only know (about Hall not playing) when the lineup goes up on the board.”

Yeah, right.

“He’s a kid who’s brought a lot of fire to their team. The first half, like any rookie, you feel your way through it but his second half has taken off for him,” said Pronger. “It’s a shame that’s he’s out for the year now to build on what he’s produced.

“He’s an exciting player for the fans to watch,” said Pronger.

The Oilers (23-35-8), last in the Western Conference, and the Flyers (40-19-6), first in the Eastern Conference heading into Tuesday’s game, are the NHL’s polar opposites.

Edmonton is into a full rebuild, while Philadelphia has always had a strong foundation and have never torn it down and started over.

jmatheson@edmontonjournal.com