Hasek vows not to lose his final game this time

Sporting News, The, August 9, 1999 by Larry Wigge

That goal. Brett Hull's Stanley Cup-clinching goal in Game 6. It's still on the minds of a lot of Sabres' players and fans, even as teams are just over a month away from the beginning of 1999-2000 training camp. No one takes it more personally than Dominik Hasek. "This year," he says, "I plan to win my last game."

Every NHL player should take that as a threat.

Together with Hasek's surprise announcement that he will retire at the end of the upcoming season, that also should drive the rest of the Sabres to get back to the finals.

Hasek's announcement, coming one day after the retirement of Lions running back Barry Sanders, takes on special significance, according to former NHL coach Pierre Page.

"Sanders and Hasek are alike in that they are superstar athletes who force the opposition to play a different game," says Page, who currently serves as a consultant for the expansion Minnesota Wild. "I remember one night when I was coaching the Flames, and I sent (assistant coach) Guy Lapointe to the other side of the rink to get a different perspective than the one I had to watch Hasek in the pregame skate.

"I figured it might help us find a flaw in Hasek's style. But he never gave us a chance to find a weakness. He stopped every shot, had his teammates skating away shaking their heads."

A five-time winner of the Vezina Trophy as the best goalie in the NHL and twice the league's Most Valuable Player, Hasek's past six years include an unheard of 2.18 goals-against average.

"My wife and I want our kids to go back to the Czech Republic and share in our families' backgrounds and culture," says Hasek, 34. "I can see every year it's more and more difficult, especially for my son, Michael, to adapt to the Czech life.

"The longer we stay in the United States, the harder it is for our kids to respect their heritage."

Hasek's retirement may or may not preclude him from playing for the Czech Republic in the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City. He would be only 37 then, and what better way to end a playing career than by leading your country to a second consecutive Olympic gold medal?

Regardless of Hasek's run of near-perfection, some say he will never be considered one of the NHL's true greats without winning the Stanley Cup.

Hasek has heard these comments-that's why he made a point of telling the world last week that he intends to go out a winner.

I wouldn't bet against him. Would you?

RELATED ARTICLE: Sudden impact

The ice may be melted, but as we've come to learn the past few years, hockey never completely fades out of the picture--even in the summer. In fact, there have been several announcements that will have significant impact on the 1999-2000 season.

Here are the offseason highs--and lows:

Dominik Hasek's vow to win: When The Dominator speaks, his teammates listen.

Power Rangers: Name a free agent this playoff-aspiring team didn't sign.

Birth of a Roman empire: If Roman Turek is as good as advertised, the Blues' 0-25-9 record last season in games they scored two or fewer goals will dramatically change for the better.

The Jiri-Pavel show: We saw how good the Panthers were after getting Pavel Bure last season. Add Jiri Dopita as his center and the depth of this club makes it the best in the Southeast Division.

Kings ransom: Ziggy Palffy should rebound to 40 to 50 goals when he's reunited with Slovakian linemate Jozef Stumpel in Los Angeles.

Rocky Mountain low: The Avalanche have lost Theo Fleury, Valeri Kamensky, Sylvain Lefebvre and Craig Billington since losing to Dallas in the conference finals.

Transition-less: The impact in Philadelphia is unfortunately negative following the death of defenseman Dmitri Tertyshny in a boating accident. Tertyshny's outlet passes to trigger the Flyers' transition game last season were a welcome addition on a relatively plodding defense.

RELATED ARTICLE: inside dish

FRONT OFFICE RUMBLINGS AND LOCKER ROOM WHISPERS FROM LARRY WIGGE

Senators G.M. Marshall Johnston says disgruntled center Alexei Yashin either plays for $3.6 million (on the last year of his five-year contract) or sits all season. No trade proposals will be entertained, Johnston says. Yashin, the runner-up to MVP Jaromir Jagr last season, wants a new contract that starts between $8 million and $10 million. Yashin skipped camp and the first four months of the 1995-96 season to get the contract he has now--and likely will hold out again this season. The Blackhawks and Devils have been sniffing around to see if they can work out a trade for Yashin. ... Still looking for depth on their second line, the Bruins signed left winger Dave Andreychuk. Wendel Clark's 32 goals and grit would look better in Boston than Andreychuk's 15.... Free-agent winger Joe Murphy asking for $5 million a year is akin to highway robbery.... Lightning G.M. Rick Dudley tried to acquire center Joe Juneau at the March trading deadline from Washington when he was in charge at Ottawa. Now that he has a bigger payroll to work with, look for Dudley to sign Juneau and move him to left wing.... A $1.32 million contract? For Chris Simon? Isn't this the same slug who played only 93 of 246 games for the Capitals the past three seasons? ... The Canadiens are confident No. 1 center Saku Koivu will be ready for training camp following minor surgery on his troublesome left knee. However, friends say he might miss the start of the season.... Vancouver fans will have to wait to see the Sedin twins. Though Daniel and Henrik, who were picked second and third in the recent draft, signed three-year contracts to play for the Canucks, they will remain in Sweden one more year. "It's not all that bad," says Canucks G.M. Brian Burke. "They'll come in next year 10 pounds heavier and ready to contribute. Look at Joe Thornton in Boston. He wasn't ready until he was 19."