Hasek Out for Season

The Detroit Red Wings announced on Tuesday that goaltender Dominik Hasek will be out of the lineup for the remainder of the season due to a groin injury.

Hasek, who returned to Detroit this season after a one-year retirement, played only 14 games. He was 8-3-2 in that span, playing some of the best hockey of his career.

The goaltender joined the Red Wings in July of 2001 and helped them win the Stanley Cup, the first of his career, the following spring. He retired in the summer of 2002 but returned to the team a year later.

Since Hasek’s return, Detroit has been juggling three goaltenders. Backup Manny Legace and Curtis Joseph, who was signed to replace Hasek in July of 2002, have split time in net with Hasek.

Joseph was available for several months after Hasek’s return. When no takers were found, he was placed on waivers and sent to the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League. When Hasek was injured, Joseph was brought back to Detroit and pulled off the trading block.

The Red Wings may be forced to pay all of Hasek’s $6 million salary, as it is reportedly uninsured.