Canes forward Eric Staal missed practice today and will not play tomorrow in Nashville, taking a personal leave of absence because of a death in his wife's family.
Staal returned to Thunder Bay, Ontario. Tanya Staal's sister, Tamara Stephenson, passed away in Thunder Bay on Tuesday following a long fight with cancer. She was 26.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Tanya and Eric during this difficult time for their family,” said general manager Jim Rutherford.
The Hurricanes will bring up a forward from Albany (AHL) to replace Staal, coach Paul Maurice said.
"He's taken his family home to be with them," Maurice said. "It's a very, very difficult time. It has been something that the family has been going through.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family."
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at 
Comments
Prayers
Wed, 01/06/2010 - 23:19 — SC1caniacEric, I will keep you & your wife's family in my prayers
from
Wed, 01/06/2010 - 13:32 — esteban1949from Our House to the Staal's and his Wife's family our prayers go with them....
The Canes are Good,My Grandkids are Better, and Life is Great !! Go Canes !!