Ice Hockey: Capitals prevented from recruiting former favourite Saul as coach

The quicksilver, 34-year-old ice hockey hitman was forced to hang up his skates last season through injury. But Capitals owner Scott Neil had hoped to launch Canadian-born Saul's coaching career.

However, a club spokesman revealed that medical and legal issues had blocked the move.

Saul, from Scarborough, Ontario, played at Murrayfield for two highly-successful seasons. In 2003-04 he scored 26 goals in 36 games and a year later he was even more successful, hitting the net 31 times in 35 games. He then moved on to play for Fife Flyers, Capitals' arch rivals, before appearing for two different clubs in three seasons in Italy.

His career ended in Tours, France, last season and a Capitals spokesman admitted: "Unfortunately there were some medical and legal issues that can't be resolved until at least August.

"The door remains open for Adrian so there is still a possibility that he could join at a later date but, in the meantime, the team building will continue without him."