Maurice: Pitkanen surgery a 'cleanup'

A year ago, the Canes' Rod Brind'Amour had knee surgery just before training camp began. He missed nearly all of camp and struggled in the regular season. Could it be the same for defenseman Joni Pitkanen, who had arthroscopic knee surgery Thursday? Coach Paul Maurice doesn't think so. "First of all, (Pitkanen's surgery) is a far, far less invasive procedure," Maurice said today. "It was really just a cleanup. We don't expect it be a long-term (injury). "Joni is very, very lean this year, which is important because now he's going to take a bit of time off. Probably seven days. I think he rode the bike today. "It's not like he's set back. Roddy had a far more significant injury than Joni did. ... We expect him to be up and 100 percent by the start of the season." Pitkanen is 10 pounds lighter this year after productive summer workouts in his native Finland.