Hasek headed to Ottawa

[M. Beaux-Eaux]

As reported earlier on Hockeycentral, Sportsnet has learned Dominik Hasek has agreed to terms with the Ottawa Senators.

Sportsnet.ca -- The Ottawa Senators will have a new goalie whenever the next NHL season begins.

As reported earlier on Hockeycentral, Sportsnet has learned Dominik Hasek has agreed to terms with the Ottawa Senators.

The Sens may wait until after July 1 to announce the deal when Hasek officially becomes a free agent or they would have to work out a trade with Detroit.

The six-time Vezina trophy winner will sign a new multi-year deal that will pay him somewhere in the neighbourhood of $2 million per season.

The contract will also contain several performance bonuses and if the Czech netminder leads Ottawa to a Stanley Cup title he will become the NHL's highest paid netminder.

Hasek won the Stanley Cup with Detroit in 2002 and then promptly retired before rejoining the Wings prior to last season.

Hasek only appeared in 14 games for Detroit last year as he was sidelined by a troublesome groin injury.

- www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/article.jsp?content=20040625_231450_3188

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Good for Gainey and Garon, not so good for Meehan and Théodore.

[franko]

Not so good for Lalime either. Wonder if there's a clause that is contingent upon games played?

More whining to come from the Capital City.

[jkr]

I really wonder if Hasek has anything left. Fundamentally solid goalies like Belfour can play to a late age because they can stop the puck without relying totally on reflexes. Even then age does catch up with them. Hasek's unorthodox style is OK until you are too old to maintain it. (He will be 40 in January).

I think Muckler ( at Melnyk's urging) is making moves that look good on the surface:

- taking the players off the hook & firing Martin

- dumping Bonk for a 3rd.
Yes he had a poor playoff this year but so did other name players on the team. (Bonk's previous 2 playoffs were productive - 21 points in 30 games). source - www.hockeydb.com

- signing an big name goalie.
If there is no hockey next season Hasek will be 41 midway through the following year. No one has won a Cup with a goalie that old since 1967.

[Deleted]

Although Hasek's better days are behind him, he'll at least provide much more consistent goaltending than Lalime ever did. He practically gift-wrapped Game 7 for the Leafs.