puckloo39

I've been thinking the same thing, Rock. Hasek's a hockey player, not "just" a goalie. He's been known to make decisions about where he's willing to play based on precisely these criteria in the past, hasn't he? Hence, he wound up in Detroit in 2002, because he believed/knew the Sabres were not built to win. He was correct about that. It concerns me, too, that Hasek has a much better viewpoint than we do - being a seasoned professional hockey player who know what it takes to win - in terms of the team and coaching and the actual potential to win it all. I am sure he loved the Wings, but he also has a life and his own situation to consider. Does he want to come back, uproot the family another time, play for less than he is worth (which would please many fans) and not believe he can win? Is he waiting to see who stays, goes, or is added, before he re-ups? Maybe. I do think he will retire if he doesn't play for Detroit, however. Can't see him going elsewhere. you're probably right. I like Markov, wish he would stay a Wing.

well, that's a much better argument/position than I've seen thus far. I don't know that Hasek is interested in "cashing in" at the Wings' expense. That doesn't sound right, given that he played for league minimum last season while putting up Vezina worthy numbers and getting the Wings to round three and all. And he gave up $3M in salary the last time around with the Wings. I don't see why Dom would want to go anywhere but Detroit, so the Kings' offer would be more leverage than anything like a real possibility. I don't think Dom will or should sign another deal where he's taking less than the lowest ranking rookie on the team, considering the responsibility that will again be heaped on his skinny shoulders. It made for a good story last season, but that was then and this is now. If his agent allowed that, he should be fired. I imagine Winter is already a bit perturbed that Hasek insisted on playing for next to nothing last season, to prove a point. Dom has been RW's cash cow for more than a decade. So I wouldn't be surprised if he's pushing Dom to not sign on the cheap, again, to play for an organization which clearly wants him back. Point proved.

but, can he/they fight? We know Norton cannot. you're scaring me now.

so was I, sweetie. I don't think Ozzie would have trouble as #1. I would worry more about the rest of the team than I would Ozzie. I tend to agree... but don't have any facts to back that up.

that would be fine. Ozzie can handle #1 duties, we don't need Dom. Raycroft will make more as a backup than Ozzie makes or Dom would have, but OK... wait... not OK. which one did we actually get?

Sign Raycroft now!!

How do we know that's what's happening? Do you have any sources? Or do you just feel better having posted this without any evidence that it has any basis in fact?

That's not nice. You know the truth. But it's OK, really.

I won't bother to pull up actual posts from you where you say in plain English (unlike OsGod) that you hate Dom, HC. We will find out the reason soon enough that Kenny and Dom's agent are not on the same page. Wings better hope they make the right decision, that's all. Either way, Dom will get bashed. If he comes back and succeeds in getting the team to the Cup, someone will complain that he wasn't a factor. If he comes back and doesn't succeed, more people will complain and Hasek will be drawn and quartered for his trouble (like that pirate reference, there Os?) I seriously don't think Dom can win for losing in this case, so I don't care if he doesn't return. Except that I believe the Wings will suffer if he doesn't come back. That, I care about. You guys should know more right there in Detroit than those of us 1000s of miles away. I want to know what's going on, too. My suspicion is that Dom is waiting for the dust to settle and Kenny to get done wheeling and dealing. But that would mean giving Hasek the benefit of the doubt, so I am probably in the minority on that line of thinking. we know that... how?

I understand why you think it's all Dom's fault. It's probably not. This is the attitude I love coming from an avowed Ozzie fanatic who also admits to hating Hasek. When I see any shred of evidence that Hasek is holding out for money, I will give some credence to this "argument" and admit that your "logic" has to do with something other than hatred for Hasek. I hope Dom retires, I really do. That's not sarcasm. I mean it. Why would he want to come back to Detroit, play for nothing, and put up with this nonsense. He really must be crazy, as everyone assumes.

not a big surprise.

I can't believe no one is hooting about Marty being a Red Wing... Seriously, I hope he stays where he is, even with his depleted D-corps in NJ making life rougher for him - the grass isn't greener anywhere else in the NHL. And I would love to see him retire a NJ Devil. It's hard to picture Marty anywhere else, really.

Good. That means he won't be coming here.

Hasek played one year and won a lowly Cup, and in the second got the Wings to the lowly third round. It's not a coincidence. Part of me hopes Dom says forget about it, and retires. Enough of the gamesmanship, Kenny. If you want Raycroft so bad, go sign him up.

I barely understand what you're trying to say, but if Kenny is playing stupid games and not agreeing to pay Dom, I would tell the Wings to stick it, if I were Hasek. I am not scared. Not at all. At this point, I couldn't care less if Dom comes back to Detroit. He talked his family into coming back one more year. OK. Pay the man. I doubt seriously that Dom is the reason the deal isn't struck. But of course, it's more fun to assume Hasek is at fault here. I am not taking anything out on Ozzie, all you sensitive Ozzie-ites. I simply think it would be interesting to see Ozzie take on the burden that Dom carries of being one of the best 'tenders in the league, again, and still being discounted as a factor in the Wings' success.

that would work for me. Ozzie can shoulder that load of blame and get no credit, instead fo Dom. Losing Dom would free up some money so they can give Ozzie a raise, too. Cool!

I would tell Detroit to go for it if I were Hasek, if they think Raycroft is a better option in net. I suspect Dom would have gone home this summer, except the Wings begged him to stay one more year. It's up to the Red Wings whether they want to offer Dom fair compensation for his services. If not, he ought to hang it up and let them figure out if they can get to round three with someone else. Hasek is a bargain at $2.5M, and if Kenny can't commit that, then I don't see any reason why Dom should come back and give it up for the team again. Last year was ludicrous, in terms of salary, but Dom made his point. Now, it's in the Wings' court. I still think Dom's waiting to see what funds Kenny has left before committing, so that he doesn't cause a financial burden to the Wings. But if Raycroft seems so much better, I think Kenny should pull the trigger.

The Wings keep Ozzie because he's a good goalie and an even better teammate, plus he wants to be a Red Wing. I don't doubt he could start somewhere else. He has, and did a better job than most (for the Isles and Blues). But he likes it here, and the Wings love him. I'd say he's found a good spot and both Ozzie and the Wings would be crazy to mess with the chemistry. As for not needing Hasek to win, the facts say different. The Wings didn't score this season either. Somehow, they managed to win the conference and get within four games of a Cup - oddly enough for the first tiime since Hasek left in '02. People can interpret things however they want, I guess. Those who discount Dom's contributions to this team and its ability to win are simply denying the facts. The Wings themselves know what he means to the team, and that includes Ozzie. He's a hockey-savvy guy. In a world where ego rules, Ozzie actually has the presence of mind to understand his role on the team. Money can't buy that trait.

The Wings couldn't score consistently this season either, any more than the previous ones. Yet Hasek in net got them within four games of a Cup. I love Ozzie, but we won't win a Cup with him in the net, any more than we did with Cujo or Legace, rather than Dom. The fact is sort of obvious, but 2007 marked the first time since Hasek left in 2002 that the Wings got out of round 1. Hasek is a difference-maker, like it or not. Hasek's contributions get discounted by everyone except the Wings. Maybe it's a mental thing for them, but they need him back to win. At the risk of repeating myself - it doesn't matter what Dom does or where he goes, someone will complain and say he's a bastard for doing it. That's just the way it is, I guess.

Is it just me, or does Anaheim get to have, like, 35 guys on their team now? Everytime I look, they've signed someone else.

I hope not, Edi. I only see Dom leaving or retiring, if he felt he didn't have who he needed in front of him to win. Losing Bert, Calder, Schneids and possibly Markov doesn't really seem to be that big a deal, from my perspective... not that I am happy about those situations. I just don't see it being a deciding factor for Dom, with the core of the team in Z, Dats, Mule, Homer, Lids, Cheli, etc. intact. More money isn't what Dom is after, he wants another Cup. Detroit is as likely as any other team to win it -- we came so close this season, even with a bunch of hurt guys playing and the cards stacked against us. I doubt Dom would jump to another team at all, even for more money. He's too attached to Detroit at this point.

Sometimes, I think you're me, posting on my behalf, RR. NOTTAWING, love it!!

I am sorry, the Stars are my favorites, right after the Wings. I adored Lindros, but was very disappointed for the Stars that he just didn't get the magic back in Dallas - I am sure he wanted to. For what it's worth, I really liked what I saw in Nagy, too bad he's gone, really. Not quite ready to look at Foresbooger in a Stars sweater yet, either.

He'd have to be very, very reasonable, since he's spent most of last season nursing a sore ankle and barely played. Last time I paid any attention, he'd been to about 8 different doctors, didn't like any of them, and was upset about not being able to find skates that didn't hurt, after trying a bunch of different customized skates. And he's supposed to be tough enough to play hockey? I don't like his sneaky, whiney, diving ways... and probably would never be OK with him in a winged wheel. I am sure Nick Lidstrom - and every other Swede on Earth - loves him to death, but I just never pictured him as fitting in with the guys in Detroit. Of course, people can say the same about Cheli and I love him. I don't see a great deal of up-side unless he plays for peanuts. Plus, he's creepy looking. that's what I think. heh~

I'll make a bold prediction: people will complain no matter what happens with Hasek. Fact is, the Wings want him back and need him. And Hasek, like it or not, is key to another decent season, never mind a Cup. He's not going to screw the Wings over for money, people are making too much of the delay -- for the umpteenth time, Hasek is doing nothing more than what Stevie used to do all the time: wait to sign until he knows from Kenny what the margin is on what budget is left after getting players signed on the roster. Only difference is, Stevie would get credit for such a move. Hasek won't. Oh, well...