Primeau calls it quits

VOORHEES, N.J. — With even the most mundane skating drills causing him headaches and fuzziness, Keith Primeau decided it was time to stop playing hockey.

Trying every available option to return from concussions that robbed him of years of his career, Primeau was told by Flyers trainer Jim McCrossin he could continue to skate with a minor league affiliate or practice with a white jersey with a red cross so he couldn't be hit, like a training-camp quarterback. But McCrossin saved his most distressing news for last: He told Primeau last week he would never clear the former Flyers captain to play. McCrossin couldn't live with the consequences if Primeau took one more blow to the head. Primeau knew he could not go on.

CANUCKS RE-SIGN KESLER: The Vancouver Canucks matched Ryan Kesler's offer sheet and re-signed him Thursday, two days after the Philadelphia Flyers extended a $1.9 million offer. The speedy 6-foot-2 center had 10 goals and 13 assists as a rookie last season.

RULES ADOPTED: NHL players will be allowed to use stick blades that are curved three-quarters of an inch — a quarter-inch more than last season — under a series of minor rules changes approved Thursday by the league's board of governors. During regulation time or overtime but not shootouts, a player found to have a stick curved in excess of three-quarters of an inch will be assessed a minor penalty and a $200 fine for the first offense. A second offense in the same season will be accompanied by a minor penalty, plus a fine of $1,000. A third offense will result in a game misconduct penalty and an automatic one-game suspension. The suspension will double in length for any subsequent violation.