Chris Pronger doesn't play every minute of every game for the St. Louis Blues -- just every other minute.

The stalwart defenseman leads the NHL in minutes played with an average of 30.2 per game. That is a tremendous amount of time to be on the ice. But then again, Pronger is a tremendous player worthy of the minutes.

Chris Pronger by Meredith Martini

Pronger plays at even strength and on the power-play and penalty-killing units and does all of it well despite playing the most minutes of anyone in the league. One would think as the season goes on, the grind of playing as much as Pronger does would start to wear on him. But as Pronger points out, he's been able to take the occasional break this season because of an injury and a suspension to get the required rest he needs to survive the playoff run.

"Actually, after taking 11 games off (due to injury), I am quite happy to be playing 30 minutes a game," Pronger said. "I got my breather in mid-December there with the suspension and now here in February with the ankle injury, so I am kind of happy to get back into it."

The Blues captain is putting together another solid season. His offensive numbers (11-27-38) have already surpassed his Norris Trophy contending season of a year ago (9-27-36). His plus/minus rating (+1) has slipped significantly from his league-leading +47 of a year ago. But with Pronger on the ice for half of every game matching up against the league's best forwards and top lines, having any kind of plus rating is impressive.

With the loss of Steve Duchesne via free agency before this season, Pronger has been counted on to provide more offense to go along with his usual superb defense. Pronger has responded with a career-high in points and power- play goals even though he's played in about 30 less games than he did all of last year.

Pronger also has teamed up with 1999 Norris Trophy candidate Al MacInnis to give St. Louis one of the best 1-2 punches from the blue line. As a matter of fact, both could make strong cases for winning the trophy for the league's best defenseman. But as of right now, Pronger says the honor should go to Big Daddy Mac.

"You will probably have to go with Al," Pronger said. "He has got the better numbers. He is having a great year. I think if I was having a similar year as I did last year, I am sure it would be a little closer. But right now, I think I would have to give Al the win."

MacInnis has had some big seasons in the past - including a 103-point, 28-goal year with the Calgary Flames in 1990-91 - but has never won a Norris. That could change this year, however. The man with the howitzer from the point leads all defensemen with 54 points (19 goals) in 68 games. It's a far cry from the 100-point season at the beginning of the decade, but the game has changed a lot since then. MacInnis is also near the top of the league with a +28 rating.

Pronger, who is 11 years younger than MacInnis, wonders sometimes how his fellow defenseman didn't win a Norris Trophy back in the old-school NHL.

"I would like to see him win," Pronger said. "I think anybody who looks back on his career, you almost wonder how did he not win in certain years of his career with 100 and some points. But maybe it is his time and maybe it isn't. But like I said, getting on in years and into his career, you certainly would like to see a player of that caliber and that kind of person win a Norris Trophy."

This is the fourth season Pronger and MacInnis have played together. Pronger joined the Blues in a controversial Mike Keenan-inspired trade with the Hartford Whalers. Pronger, who was trying to establish himself as a solid prospect in the league at the time of the trade in 1995, was dealt by the Whalers to the Blues for Brendan Shanahan. Shanahan was one of the most popular players in St. Louis history at that time.

It took Pronger some time to win over the fans in St. Louis, but it looks like he finally has. He's received a lot of help from veterans like MacInnis. Perhaps Pronger has taken a few lessons from MacInnis on how to improve his offensive game, as well. Step One: The Slap Shot.

"The amount of whip and torque he gets from his stick certainly is one of the factors in how he shoots the puck so hard," Pronger said. "I think if you watch him play, it's kind of like a jai-alai stick where he could whip it towards the net from any angle."

One thing Pronger needs no advice in is how to play half a game and do it well.

"I think that just comes with the territory," Pronger said. "If you want to be the best player in the world or the best defenseman in the league, you got to prove it. You have got to come to produce a play the same way each and every night. I don't think it's a matter of winning trophies or whatnot. I think the bottom line is winning hockey games. If it takes you winning the Norris Trophy or winning the scoring title for your team to win hockey games, then that's what you have to do."

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