Hurricanes lose D Pitkanen for season
The Carolina Hurricanes learned Wednesday at the start of training camp that defenseman Joni Pitkanen will miss the 2013-14 season because of a lingering injury.
Pitkanen sustained a broken bone in a heel on April 2 during a game against the Washington Capitals when he slid into the boards. The heel has not healed sufficiently during the offseason.
Losing the 29-year-old veteran is considered a major blow for the Hurricanes. He is in the final year of a contract that will count $4.5 million against the team's salary cap.
Injuries have limited Pitkanen to 55 games the past two years. He has been with the Hurricanes for the past five seasons after playing for the Philadelphia Flyers and Edmonton Oilers. His career totals include 57 goals and 225 assists in 535 regular-season games.
