Sportsnet.ca — Fresh off his second Stanley Cup victory with the Detroit Red Wings, veteran goaltender Dominik Hasek is expected to retire from the National Hockey League, sources tell Sportsnet.
The Red Wings scheduled a news conference for Monday morning without revealing details.
The oldest active goalie in the NHL at 43-years old, Hasek went 27-10 in 41 games this year, splitting regular season duties with Chris Osgood. The Czech star began the post-season as Detroit’s No. 1 before losing his starting job 26 minutes into Game 4 of the opening round in Nashville.
Throughout his 16-year career that included stints with the Chicago Blackhawks, Buffalo Sabres, Ottawa Senators and Red Wings, Hasek was 389-223-82 in 735 games with 81 shutouts and a 2.20 GAA. He is a two-time Hart Trophy winner as NHL MVP and six-time Vezina Trophy winner as top goaltender.
Hasek broke into the league in 1990-91 with the Blackhawks before being dealt to the Sabres where he emerged as one of the league’s most unorthodox — but dominant — goaltenders. Despite racking up numerous records and countless trophies, it wasn’t until 2002 with the Red Wings that Hasek finally captured his first Stanley Cup.
At the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, Hasek starred for the Czech Republic, beating Canada in a shootout in the semifinal en route to the gold medal game where he then shutout Russia 1-0. He allowed six goals in total, with only two of them coming in the medal round.
