Calgary Flames goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff recently told general manager Jay Feaster he is leaning toward retirement, according to a report by Sportsnet.
"If we had to ask him to make a decision right now, I think his decision would be what it was at the end of the season -- that he's probably finished, but it's still early in the offseason," Feaster said in Boston at the NHL general managers meeting. "What we talked about was that we'll be patient and we'll give him time and continue to monitor that and check in."
The 36-year-old goaltender had one of his least successful seasons in 2012-13. He was limited to 24 games by injury and performance, and he finished 8-14-2 with a 3.44 goals-against average and .882 save percentage.
Kiprusoff declined to be dealt at the NHL Trade Deadline, choosing instead to remain with the Flames, who did not qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Kiprusoff has a career record of 319-213-7-64 with a 2.49 GAA and .912 save percentage.
The Flames gave backup Joey McDonald a one-year contract extension in April and reportedly will add Karri Ramo from the Kontinental Hockey League in July. The team also acquired prospect Reto Berra from the St. Louis Blues in the trade for Jay Bouwmeester.
"It's going to be some big feet to fill," MacDonald, 33, told the Flames' website last month, "Kipper's been here for a long time and has done a great job. If it happens [that I can start], great. They’re going to bring probably a couple other goalies too. My focus now is just to be ready and be 100 percent and give myself the best chance in training camp."
The Flames also have Leland Irving, Danny Taylor, Joni Ortio, Laurent Brossoit and Jon Gillies in their system.
NHL.com Senior Writer Dan Rosen contributed to this report