PITTSBURGH, Dec. 14 (UPI) -- The Pittsburgh Penguins Thursday released right wing John LeClair.
The move was a mutual decision after he refused to accept an assignment to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Pa., Pittsburgh's American Hockey League affiliate.
In 21 games this season, the five-time all-star and two-time U.S. Olympian had two goals and five assists for seven points.
In his 16-year NHL career, he has 406 goals and 413 assists while playing for the Penguins, Montreal and Philadelphia.
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported that LeClair twice cleared waivers and was not picked up by any other team, even at half his 2006 salary of $1.5 million.
Thursday's agreement will allow him to try to latch on with another club on his own.
The paper said the Penguins will not be responsible for the remainder of his contract this season.
