12/03/24
July 06, 2004
Hasek: Unless the guy who checked into the Kanata hotel last night was actually Kevin Weekes in a Dominik Hasek disguise, the Sens will be confirming the signing of Hasek in, oh, six minutes. Is there anything left to discuss anymore?
posted by DrJohnEvans to hockey at 08:54 AM - 27 comments
I like the move. Even old as dirt, he's better than 90% of the goalies in the league. His contract is sure to be incentive-laden and sprinkled with stipulations about his health. Hasek might end up costing less than Lalime. (Wow, Patrick Lalime Google-ads! --->)
posted by Succa at 09:12 AM on July 06, 2004
Hey, I want to see Lalime google ads! Lalime Lalime Lalime!
posted by DrJohnEvans at 09:30 AM on July 06, 2004
Incentive laden is one way to describe the reported $5M bonus (US) for a Cup!
posted by billsaysthis at 10:05 AM on July 06, 2004
I'm just trying to imagine Kevin Weekes in a Hasek costume. If they're doing this just to beat the Leafs for once, it might work, but Hasek isn't going to win anyone a cup now. He's 73 years old, he's retired more times than Ali, and he's not really in the NHL for anything other than the paycheck anymore. This bodes ill for next year. (CBA whatnot aside, though that's understood.) Weekes would have been a better choice, actually. A full decade younger, some playoff success already, and something to prove.
posted by chicobangs at 10:18 AM on July 06, 2004
A lot of people said this stuff when Toronto signed Belfour, did they not? I'm excited because this is the first time Ottawa's had a genuine #1 goalie. Lalime showed glimpses of stardom at times, but would go and erase it the following game. He never quite got there. Before him we had an over-the-hill Tom Barrasso as a rental, then Tugnutt, then Damian Rhodes, then, who, Don Beaupre? Peter Sidorkowicz (sp)? Hasek!
posted by Succa at 10:33 AM on July 06, 2004
If the old groin holds out, he should be scary. Last year was a knee JERK decision, mostly due to fear of prosecution (tho the cash probably helped make up his mind as well), so he wasn't conditioned to jump right back into the grueling NHL fold. Given the time he's had to prepare, I'd expect him to be near his former self. Just curious, but is Emery the next in line? And is he participating in the Hockey Gladiators spectacle?
posted by garfield at 10:55 AM on July 06, 2004
Emery's the goalie-of-the-future. I'd look for him to hold a couple brief stints this season1, since Hasek's only going to play 50 or so games. Look for him as a regular backup the next year. If he doesn't bite somebody's ear off first. The last time I watched Hasek: it was the first game that he dressed for last year, as a backup to Legace, I think. Legace got hit (or something) in the second period, and had to go off. Hasek was called upon to play—and he didn't even have his padding on. He'd just thrown the jersey on, and so he had to get all his equipment on, right there on the bench, in the middle of the game. He'd better have shaped up. 1. Regular caveats involving the lack of 2004-05 season apply.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 11:31 AM on July 06, 2004
Weekes would have been a better choice, actually. A full decade younger, some playoff success already, and something to prove. I think after what happened last season Hasek definately has something to prove as well. That's why I think this is a great move for Ottawa, as long as Hasek is healthy for the playoffs.
posted by Stan Fields at 11:42 AM on July 06, 2004
In other hockey news, Boston appears to be letting players go. Knuble signed with Philly, now O'Donnell has signed with Phoenix, Murray is rumoured to be Toronto-bound, and get this...Thornton wants a trade, according to the Star. Whoa.
posted by Succa at 01:46 PM on July 06, 2004
Just when you think Jeremy Jacobs can't sink any lower. On the other hand, if this is what it takes to get Sean O'Donnell out of town, maybe it's worth it.
posted by yerfatma at 01:56 PM on July 06, 2004
Ferguson, make it happen. I want to see Sundin and Thornton on the same squad.
posted by garfield at 02:00 PM on July 06, 2004
samsonov14 to thread!
posted by gspm at 02:07 PM on July 06, 2004
Yeah, but it would cost McCabe if the Bruins are smart - and at least two other defensemen including Kaberle if they're not. However, my 'fantasy hard-on' gets attentive when I think of a team of centres that includes Sundin, Nieuwendyk, Thornton... and ME! (Really, I'd be unnoticed on that team). But Toronto weak D aside - this could be the best move Ottawa can make. It's really their only hole on paper. What I think they have to realize is that it's not a lack a grit that hurts them - it's a lack of grit from their best players. So all the Rob Ray's and Barnaby's of the world can't help. Speaking of Barnaby - I am so happy that little shit is buried in Chicago.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 02:07 PM on July 06, 2004
Speaking of Barnaby - I am so happy that little shit is buried in Chicago. Snuh? Did he sign with the Hawks or something?
posted by Succa at 02:43 PM on July 06, 2004
Yeah, Barnaby tried to leverage the Hawks deal to get more out of the Rangers and Islander(?), but they balked, and he got stuck with the Hawks offer.
posted by garfield at 02:49 PM on July 06, 2004
Ottawa better watch out. Hasek uses his injuries as a weapon. Anytime he gets in a spat with the coaches, the ol' groin starts acting up again, and he sits out. It's happened in Buffalo and Detroit, and it will happen in Ottawa. On the bright side, I hate the Sens!
posted by rocket88 at 04:12 PM on July 06, 2004
For the record, Mike O'Connell was on WEEI this morning at 11 o'clock, disputing that Thornton thing. Don't get too excited about it - It came from the mouth of Larry Brooks from the NYPost. I'm pretty sure Murray is going to Toronto, though. A lot of Boston fans say that Murray was only good because he was centered by Thornton, but you can bet your ass he'll be just as good centered by Sundin. I, for one, am going to miss him. Can't wait to hear what the terms of the deal are.
posted by Samsonov14 at 04:53 PM on July 06, 2004
Aw, the NY Post is never wrong, are they? I'm getting my Leafs-Thornton jersey printed up as we speak, and staking out my spot on the parade route up Bay Street forthwith. (Hey, where'd everybody go?)
posted by chicobangs at 10:00 AM on July 07, 2004
Thornton to the Leafs would be a great idea, but Ferguson will never get it done. Besides there have got to be some more 'over-the-hill' unrestricted free agents out there to spend more money on. Thornton won't be going anywhere until a new CBA is done. As long as there is a good possibility that there will be no hockey next year players don't really have much bargining power when it comes to demanding trades. In other news... Conroy has gone to LA (for 12.6 mil over 4 years). The Flames simply don't have the money to match an over like that. The Flames offered 4.4 mil over 2 years. Rumor has it Sutter didn't really want him back, and is looking for some more youth. Conroy is 32. Chelios will be back as a Wing. I thought Chelios was done, but I guess he figures his body will hold out one more year. It will be interesting to see how many performace clauses are worked into the contract.
posted by camcanuck at 10:30 AM on July 07, 2004
Thornton to the Leafs is never going to happen. Who could Toronto offer in a trade? The Bruins would want a good young player or two. McCabe, and? I'd love Ottawa to trade for him, but the starting offer would be Hossa. We're talking about a franchise player here. A Thornton trade would be close to Lindros-esque in magnitude. Murray though, I won't be surprised if he's in a Leaf uniform next year. How the hell could Conroy go to Los Angeles after the season Calgary had? I mean jeez, is money everything these days? Don't answer that.
posted by Succa at 01:51 PM on July 07, 2004
Yeah, Joe T in blue & white was a pipe dream....hey, pass that thing 'round this way again........ah......... I heard Murray is going to be a spoked wheel. Actually, Conroy went for the longer contract, 4 at $12m, and likewise, Sutter is looking to get younger up the middle. Bad move for Calgary, imho.
posted by garfield at 02:21 PM on July 07, 2004
well, if they don't have the money then they don't have the money. but the idea that Sutter didn't like Conroy and was willing to give him up... who replaces him? i guess they made game 7 of the final carrying some front line injuries but i don't know who the flames will add/promote to fill the Conroy gap.
posted by gspm at 02:50 PM on July 07, 2004
I'll be interested to see how goo dconroy is without Iginla. The Boston Globe reported that it looks like Murray is talking very seriously with the Red Wings now. He's reportedly looking for 5 years, $30 mil, which I think is a little crazy.
posted by Samsonov14 at 03:27 PM on July 07, 2004
gspm: Steve Reinprecht will almost certainly be given 1st line center duties. He only played 40+ games last year and missed all of the playoffs with a shoulder injury. The Flames were very happy with his performance last year when he actually played. The rumour is that Conroy would have stayed in Calgary is they would have extended his contract to 4 years at his current salary of 2.2 mil a year. The Flames have been burned already by some long term deals. You would be foolish to expect all players to except pay cuts like Turek did. A small market team simply cannot expose themselves to that much risk except for superstar players (re: Iginla). I can't blame Conroy for looking for a longer term deal to ensure some financial stability. If another team can afford the risk more power to him. Interesting tidbit on the radio today mentioned the Flames may open their books up this summer. Apparently they didn't make it into the black until the start of the 3rd round of the playoffs. So if every team was run exactly like Calgary 26 of them would loose money every year. A sobering thought....
posted by camcanuck at 03:41 PM on July 07, 2004
Succa - Ottawa would never get Thornton - he's skilled AND tough, and that would likely cause friction in the dressing room. A Thornton trade I think would look a lot like a Jagr trade - never get full value if your being forced into it. So a McCabe and some prospects would do it. Money, money money.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 03:56 PM on July 07, 2004
In any case, if I don't see Hasek conducting his first in-season news conference on a training bike, there's be hell to pay.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 07:45 AM on July 08, 2004
It's tough what happened with Patrick Lalime. It just seemed like everybody was on his back and if the guy had just been allowed to play, then the team would have had success. I love Rob Ray.