"My guess is the Stefan Legein story is only getting started. As it stands, it's a mystery.

To recap:

Rumors began flying in Oakville, Ontario, the last couple of days that Stefan Legein, the Blue Jackets' second-round draft pick in 2007, has quit hockey. Typically, I don't even make phone calls on something that sounds so preposterous, but this quickly started "getting legs," as they say, by Tuesday afternoon.

After trying numerous sources, and being met with no comments or a surprising lack of surprise, I was finally able to nail it down as true that Legein has told the Blue Jackets he won't be attending training camp. GM Scott Howson confirmed it later in the day. You'll read his quotes in Wednesday's Dispatch. (Right?)

I spoke with both of Legein's parents and his agent, Doug Woods, later in the evening on Tuesday.

Chris Legein, the father said: "When does training camp start, Sept. 19 or 20? Until Sept. 20, he hasn't quit anything." (To clarify: Legein would need to be in Columbus on Sept. 12, as he's on the list to take part in rookie camp up in Traverse City, Mich.)

Woods would not comment, although he did confirm speaking with Howson on Tuesday. Also, he told me to call him back on Wednesday. We'll do.

The burning question, of course, is what's going on with Legein?

He helped lead Canada to another World Junior Championship last January, serving as alternate captain. He's as cocky and gregarious as any player I've ever been around, so full of energy and passion for the game. He had such a great skill set, a big-time agitator with hands and feet good enough to play on a third line, maybe a second.

But late last season, after he came back from the shoulder injury, Legein wasn't the same player. That's what lots of folks in Ontario told me today. He didn't get along great with his junior club teammates, the Niagara IceDogs, and he left the Syracuse Crunch after only two playoff games, saying he wanted to go back home to start working out and getting ready for 2008-09 season.

Be honest: Have you ever heard of any athlete at any level who would rather work out than play a game?

Legein took part in the Blue Jackets' development camp, but he was not one of the five or six most noticeable players, as one might expect. Typically, agitator types don't do well in "camp" settings because those are your teammates you're going up against. But Legein did not fare well in camp. He wasn't in great shape, either, apparently.

It'll be interesting to see what lies ahead here. The Blue Jackets considered Legein one of their top prospects, but they weren't counting on him to make the 2008-09 roster, necessarily. Their chief concern is that Legein is making this decision on his own merits, that there aren't other problems that could be worked through to make his outlook change. If he needs help, they'll help him get it. Right now, they've been told only that he's "lost the passion" needed to play the game."