Lemieux Uncertain of Future

As if the Pittsburgh Penguins didn’t have enough worries, Mario Lemieux gave them another Tuesday: He’s not certain if he’ll play next season.

Lemieux plans to wait and decide after talking with his family and close friends during the off-season.

“Every year, I sit down with my family and some of my good friends and that’s not going to change this year,” Lemieux said. “Then I’ll have a decision.”

Despite sitting out for nearly a month because of a groin injury, Lemieux, 37, leads the league in scoring with 73 points (20 goals, 53 assists).

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Atlanta Thrasher forward Shawn McEachern will have surgery today for a herniated disk, and is expected to be sidelined for six weeks.... Pittsburgh forward Aleksey Morozov might sit out the rest of the season after having surgery on his right wrist.... Carolina Hurricane goaltender Arturs Irbe cleared waivers and will be sent to the minors.

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Steve Stavro sold his controlling share in the Toronto Maple Leafs, the NBA Toronto Raptors and the Air Canada Centre.

Bell Globemedia, owned by BCE Inc. and the family of billionaire Kenneth Thomson, bought part of Stavro’s stake in the company that owns the NHL and NBA teams and the arena.