From Dispatch Blue Jackets beat reporters Aaron Portzline (Puck-rakers):

Right winger Stefan Legein, the Blue Jackets’ second-round pick in 2007 and one of the top up-and-coming agitators, has decided to quit playing hockey.

Not joking.

I didn’t believe it either, but it’s been confirmed just a few minutes ago by the Blue Jackets. They got a call today from Legein’s agent, Doug Woods, telling them he won’t be at training camp and has decided to hang up his skates. He’ll be 20 years old in three months.

This story is shocking on so many different levels. Earlier today, I got an email from a Puck-Rakers reader, Bethany, of Bethany’s Hockey Rants. Actually, it was a “forward” of an email she got from an anonymous person in Ontario saying Legein had retired.

After a slew of phone calls to sources throughout the NHL, I finally got somebody to tell be off the record that’s it true. Just a few minutes ago, Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson confirmed it.

Legein’s mother, Christine, said around 5 p.m. that she hadn’t heard the news yet. Either Stefan has some explaining to do, or Mrs. Legein wasn’t in the talking mood. I can’t blame her if she wasn’t. UPDATE: Just talked to Stefan’s father, who said: “Until Sept. 20 (when training camp starts), he hasn’t quit anything.” He did confirm, however, that Doug Woods still represents his son as an agent.

I’ve since gotten two more calls from north of the border saying it’s true. Unbelievable. This isn’t a 35-year-old veteran we’re talking about, or a 25-year-old who’s never going to get an NHL shot. This is a young player with a real bright future ahead of him.

Habster:

It would appear Stefan Legein is, for the time being, quiting hockey which would be a huge shock for knowledgeable hockey people who observed Legein help Team Canada win a gold medal at this year’s U-20 championship. He is a very talented young player in the Sean Avery mold.

I really have a hard time believing this is the end of the 19 year old Legein’s hockey career. Daniel Ryder also took some time away from the Calgary Flames organization last year and decided he missed playing hockey so much that he returned this season.

These young players are under so much pressure to develop their game that it take a toll on their everyday lives away from the rink, everything is about hockey……..they must eat, breath and sleep hockey at every level when they’re a high NHL draft pick. There is no off-season for a player like Stefan Legein to rest or just be a teenager. Whether it’s the Team Canada U-20 camps (2007) or the Blue Jackets development camp or the rookie camp, NHL training camp……the list goes on and on!!!!

Junior hockey programs and NHL teams should always place their young players interests ahead of their own and never forget these players are still teenagers at heart, not commodities or machines.