March 21st, Part II

NHL WON'T SUSPEND SHARKS MITCHELL

The National Hockey League held a hearing Thursday afternoon to discuss supplemental discipline for San Jose forward Torrey Mitchell. Following close to three hours of discussion, the league has decided not to suspend Mitchell for his role in an incident that led to Minnesota's Kurtis Foster breaking his leg.

Foster had a rod inserted to repair a fractured left fibula Thursday and will miss the remainder of this season, including the playoffs.

He will spend at least two days recovering in a San Jose hospital before returning home, team spokesman Aaron Sickman said.

The gruesome injury happened Wednesday night during the Wild's 4-3 shootout loss to the San Jose Sharks. Foster collided with Mitchell and then crashed into the boards in the second period. He had to be carried off the ice on a stretcher.


WINGS STUART OUT UNTIL PLAYOFFS

Detroit Red Wings defenceman Brad Stuart will miss the rest of the regular season because of a broken finger.

Stuart, 28, sustained the injury when he blocked a shot in the third period of Wednesday's 3-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets.

He may not be ready for the start of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Stuart has posted six goals and 17 assists for 23 points in 72 games this season.

He has one goal and one assist in nine games with the Red Wings, who acquired him from the Los Angeles Kings for second- and fourth-round draft picks at the Feb. 26 trade deadline.

Stuart has compiled 59 goals and 229 points in 579 games since he was chosen third overall by the San Jose Sharks in the 1998 NHL draft. In his NHL career, he has played for the Sharks, Boston Bruins, Calgary Flames, Kings, and Red Wings.


ZEDNIK BRIEFLY SKATES

Richard Zednik joined the Florida Panthers for the official team picture this week, but saved his real smile for a brief return to the ice. He skated alone for about 5-to-10 minutes before his teammates practised, enjoying the ice for the first time since a near fatal injury in February when his throat was slashed by teammate Olli Jokinen's skate.

"I didn't want to leave," Zednik said. "I was like, 'I'm going to stay.' It was great to be on the ice. I felt like it was time to go back."

Zednik says his recovery is going well, though doctors still haven't cleared him to work out. He hopes to run on a treadmill or ride a stationary bike in the next week or so.

"I feel good," Zednik said. "A little bored, but good."

Zednik has attended every Panthers home game since returning to South Florida from Buffalo, where he was hospitalized after the injury. The carotid artery on the right side of his throat was nearly severed.


NUMMINEN FILES GRIEVANCE AGAINST SABRES

Teppo Numminen filed a grievance against the Buffalo Sabres for suspending him without pay after the veteran defenceman failed a pre-season physical because he required open-heart surgery.

The grievance was filed with the NHL Players' Association in November, union spokesman Jonathan Weatherdon told The Associated Press on Thursday.

News of the grievance surfaced as Numminen rejoined the team this week. Numminen had previously declined to discuss whether he was unhappy with the Sabres' decision to place him on their suspended list after it was discovered during a routine physical in September that he required surgery to repair a faulty valve.

An 18-year NHL veteran, Numminen re-signed with the Sabres in July, agreeing to a $2.6-million, one-year contract.

Sabres general manager Darcy Regier said the dispute will be settled between the NHLPA and the NHL. Regier said the team was within its rights to suspend Numminen, because he was physically unable to play in an NHL game, even though he first began practising with the team on a non-contact basis in December.

Coach Lindy Ruff said Numminen was scheduled to have on-ice testing Friday. Ruff, however, said it was too early to determine when Numminen could play for the Sabres, who have eight games left in the regular season.