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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
'The Dominator' 47, sees himself back in NHL crease
Dominik Hasek (CP)
GOALIE Dominik Hasek isn't quite ready to give up his hope of playing another season in the NHL.
The 47-year-old netminder, who didn't play anywhere last season, has confirmed to several Czech publications he's exploring the possibility of making a comeback to play an 18th season in the NHL.
Hasek's last NHL season was with Detroit in 2007-08 when he teamed with Chris Osgood to win the Stanley Cup and the Jennings Trophy for fewest goals against.
"I know what I want," said Hasek, who last played with Spartak Moscow in the Kontinental Hockey League during the 2010-11 season.
"I know where I want to play, but I'm not going to talk about it. Now it's not appropriate to publish anything."
Hasek's son Michael still attends Michigan State University and the six-time Vezina Trophy winner confirmed he recently was in the Detroit area visiting his son.
The Czech story said he also visited Buffalo, where he spent the bulk of his NHL career and has a charitable foundation.
Hasek, who is a two-time winner of the Hart Trophy as the NHL's MVP, posted a 27-10-3 record with five shutouts, a 2.14 goals-against average and .902 save percentage in his last NHL season.
While Hasek's agent, Ritch Winter, told Czech publication Isport.cz that he wasn't aware of any negotiations, his client was less tight-lipped.
"My agent, Ritch Winter, knows what I want," Hasek said.
"We're working and will see how it goes, I don't know.
"It'll probably be decided in June."
In the meantime, the notorious workout freak has returned to training in preparation for his possible comeback.
"I train regularly, almost every day, without exception," Hasek told Isport.cz. "I'm in great shape and the other sides know it. Of course, if I'd agree (to a contract), I'd go even more intensely by late June or such.
"I still haven't gone on the ice. I went just before last season, but that doesn't mean that I wouldn't prepare any differently."
-- Postmedia News
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 26, 2012 C2
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