Leclaire retires … Cowen’s season is over … Weiss wants to stay, but could move on … A few heading overseas
  • Ottawa Sun: Goalie Pascal Leclaire was forced to retire due to a bad hip. He was trying to make a comeback, but he wasn’t able to recover from the 3 hip operations this summer.
  • Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun: Senators defenseman Jared Cowen will have surgery that will keep him out for the rest of the season. Cowen suffered a hip injury last month. He’ll get his AHL salary of $67,500 while he’s out.
  • George Richards via twitter: Panthers Stephen Weiss said he won’t negotiate a new contract with the Panthers when/if the season starts. He’s a UFA after this season. He did say he wants to remain with the Panthers past 2012-13, but if it’s time to move on, so be it. Weiss said: “I want to end my career with the Panthers; There’s nothing but good days ahead for this team. Want to stay, be part of it.”
  • Chip Alexander via twitter: Hurricanes Joni Pitkanen is taking the lockout day by day, and hasn’t ruled out returning to Finland.
  • Damian Cristodero via twitter: Skating together yesterday were Steven Stamkos, Vinny Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis, Ryan Malone and Steve Downie.