Ottawa Senators Goalie Pascal Leclaire announces Retirement for Hockey -NHL Update
Veteran Ottawa Senators goalie, Pascal Leclaire, had become one of the best in his field during his time in the National Hockey League (NHL), but had to call it a day and retire from the profession due to a recurring hip injury, on Tuesday, November 13,
2012.
It is certainly a loss to the sport that a goalie with as much vast experience as Leclaire had to throw in the white flag, but played hard no doubt throughout the years he was in the North American major league.
Picked up as the eighth overall back in round-one of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets, Leclaire looked forward and worked hard to make a name for himself in the competitive sport. He kicked off his career in the NHL during the 2003-2004
regular season in which he appeared in two games.
"I've known as far back as last summer after the last surgery," Leclaire told The Dispatch. "Basically, I'm bone on bone in one part of my hip. The cartilage is gone. It's not a big area, but it's a bad location for a goaltender. Once I pick up my workouts
and start to push it, I can't put weight on my right leg. It hasn't gotten better, and I have to realize that the chances of it ever getting better aren't very good."
2010-2011 was the last hockey year on his three-year, $11.4 million contract, which was signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets and ended with the Ottawa Senators, after he was traded in March of 2009.
Last season had three surgeries for the goalie, all on his hip and seeing the seriousness of his situation, the medical staff looking over his recovery, indicated that it would be harsh for him trying to get back into the sport and could complicate things
even further.
Having played a total of 173 games in the NHL with the two mentioned franchises, Pascal Leclaire holds 61 victories and 76 losses with a career save percentage of .904 and 2.89 goals-against average.
He has not announced as of yet what his plans for the future are but could be staying with the NHL, but just not on the ice.
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