Hasek has not been signed yet
Well, it’s just over 13 hours until the start of the UFA period (July 1st at noon) and Dominik Hasek has still not signed a contract. I’m not incredibly worried because we know he wants to come back and where else would be play aside from Detroit? But I find it surprising that the two sides have not figured out a deal yet. Plus, Holland’s future decisions are impacted by Hasek’s hit to the salary cap this year.
“I’ve had a number of talks with (Hasek’s) agent (Ritch Winter),” Holland said. “I’m hopeful, cautiously optimistic, but until something’s signed you don’t have a deal.
“He appears to want to be in Detroit. We’re not that far apart, but we are apart.”
Holland told the Associated Press that he will continue talks with Dom’s agent tonight and tomorrow morning to hopefully complete the deal before the start of the UFA period.
“I don’t think there’s a significant divide, but there’s no deal so we continue to go back and forth,” Holland said Saturday night. “We’ve had a lot of conversations over the last few days and hopefully we’ll talk again tonight or in the morning before free agency begins at noon.”
“He’ll have a greater salary this year, but we’re still trying to figure out what’s fair to both sides and how to structure the deal,” Holland said. “I’m cautiously optimistic that we’ll work it out.”
What about the other three UFAs?
It appears that veteran defenseman Mathieu Schneider will be testing the market. I personally don’t think that bodes well for the Wings, but the guy is 38 so it’s understandable if he wants to get the best deal possible (and ideally from a competitive team).
“We would love to have him back, but I expect him to hit the market and I don’t blame him,” Holland said. “He’s 38 years old, so he doesn’t have a lot of chances to really take advantage of free agency.”
Assuming the Wings can’t re-sign Schneider before the start of the UFA period, I don’t believe Schneider will return for another year. That means, Holland would turn to Plan B (Danny Markov). I’d be okay with keeping Markov if we were able to sign a higher end forward (ie. Ryan Smyth), but our budget would be tight and Holland says that he doesn’t see himself signing new people in the first round.
“I don’t see us being a part of the first waves of signings,” Holland said. “I think it’s going to be crazy from everybody I’ve talked to, but we’re in a bit of a wait-and-see mode.
“We’ll talk to all of our guys at least one more time before noon and if I get a sense that they want to test the market, we’re going to be a little more aggressive than I planned to be. We’re not desperate, though, because we have a good nucleus in place, but we definitely need to add a defenseman or two.”
It has been rumored that Ryan Smyth could head to Detroit, but that is probably more wishful thinking than anything else. If Schneider is not re-signed, it definitely is a possibility but the Wings could not match the offer that the Islanders gave him. He’d have to take a cheaper salary, but be a key component in a top team.
Holland continues to talk to Todd Bertuzzi’s agent, Pat Morris, and has done so almost daily this week. It sounds like the two have agreed to the salary, but the length of the contract is causing the problems. The Wings want a shorter contract due to his lack of play since 2003-2004 (suspension, lockout, and then back surgery), but Bertuzzi wants to sign a longer contract. I was excited about getting Big Bert at the trade deadline, but I’m iffy right now. If we can keep him at an affordable price for a couple years, I’m down with that. But a long term contract? No thanks. Ansar Khan believes that Bertuzzi will be re-signed by the Red Wings.
“I’d like a shorter-term deal and he’d like a longer-term contract,” Holland said. “Hopefully, we’ll find common ground.”
I’d rather sign Slava Kozlov, who the Atlanta Thrashers are desperately trying to re-sign before tomorrow at noon. I’d even take Markov, Kozlov, and Bertuzzi, but I’m getting ahead of myself there.
With the NHL’s free agency season starting today at noon, the Thrashers’ level of participation hinges on one player: Slava Kozlov.
He was Atlanta’s second-leading scorer last season, finishing with 80 points while earning a relatively modest $2 million in the final year of his contract.
That number surely will be higher next season. The question is: Who will pay it?
“I’m hoping he’ll be back,” Atlanta Spirit co-owner Bruce Levenson said.
Levenson’s general manager, Don Waddell, is optimistic a deal can be worked out. But with Detroit, Dallas and Florida among the teams rumored to be interested in the veteran forward, the asking price might exceed what the Thrashers are willing to pay.
Tomorrow @ BTJ
I’m currently up north with my family for the 4th of July holiday. I have internet connection and will be regularly checking it for updates about the Wings’ situation throughout the day. I will post information here pertaining to the Wings once I hear about it, but I may not be real quick on the draw.
For the most up to date information, be sure to check out these four websites:
TSN
Spector’s Hockey
The Globe on Hockey
Kukla’s Korner
Related Posts
Leave a Reply