  Goalie Pascal Leclaire had hip surgery on Monday. He said what are likely his final goodbyes to his Senators teammates in the dressing room on Friday, as the club has said it will not re-sign Leclaire. (QMI Agency file) |
OTTAWA -- Pascal Leclaire spoke his final words in the Senators dressing room Friday afternoon.
Fresh off hip surgery to repair a problem that has plagued him all year, the 28-year-old Leclaire is going to need three months of rehab. Then, he faces an uncertain future because the Senators have already said he won't be back in Ottawa next year.
Leclaire had the surgery Monday in Colorado.
“I need a few months of rehab and then I should be good to go,” said Leclaire. He is adamant that he will be back in the NHL and his career isn’t over.
“I’m really confident I’ll find a place to play in the NHL.
“I’m sure somebody will sign me and we’ll go from there,” said Leclaire, who has a checkered injury history.
The Senators will be without backup Curtis McElhinney against the Capitals Friday. The club has recalled Mike Brodeur from its AHL affiliate in Binghamton.
Craig Anderson will make the start. Milan Michalek will make his return to the lineup, which means Roman Wick has gone back to Binghamton.
