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Sunday, June 24, 2001
Sabres still exploring Hasek options
Associated Press
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BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Barring a trade, the Buffalo Sabres are
seriously considering spending $9 million to retain All-Star goalie
Dominik Hasek's rights for one more season.
| |  | | | Hasek |
What is uncertain is whether the Sabres will keep the six-time
Vezina Trophy-winner or trade him in order to get some value in
return.
"It's a very serious consideration and it's one that we have to
weigh," Sabres general manager Darcy Regier said on Saturday.
Hasek, who said he wants to play for one more season and with a
contender, has completed the guaranteed portion of his contract.
The Sabres, however, have until June 30 to determine whether to
pick up a one-year, $9 million option or risk losing Hasek to
unrestricted free agency.
While the Sabres and Hasek's agent, Rich Winter, are together
seeking potential trade offers, Regier stressed that the sides are
merely exploring all options.
"It's a significant decision organizationally, because on one
hand, you have a $9 million option. On the other hand, you have an
asset," Regier said. "If we do exercise the option, then we're
going beyond July and we obviously feel that there's value to the
asset and we'll still have some time left."
According to reports, the St. Louis Blues, plagued by poor
goaltending in the last two playoffs, might be one of the teams
interested in acquiring Hasek.
Despite swapping goalies with the Calgary Flames -- trading Roman
Turek in exchange for Fred Brathwaite -- on Saturday, the Blues
indicated they might not be done dealing.
"We're always looking to improve our team. That's my job,"
Blues GM Larry Pleau said. "We talk to a lot of teams, we try to
anyway."
The Sabres would prefer to make a deal by the end of next week
to avoid making a decision on whether or not to pick up Hasek's
option year.
The Sabres have given Winter permission to speak to other NHL teams in regards to their interest in Hasek, which Winter refers to as a chance for both sides to explore all options before meeting for at least one more time this week.
By working together, Winter said, the two sides have had an opportunity to create what he referred to as a "win-win" for all parties, whether Hasek remains in Buffalo or winds up with another team.
If a deal is not made, the Sabres are left to question how much
more difficult it might be to trade a player with a $9 million
contract. The Sabres are considering how much of that contract they
would have to pick up in a deal made after June 30.
Regier's comments mirrored those made by Winter to The
Associated Press on Friday. Winter said that the two sides are
working together to find the best possible deal for Hasek and the
Sabres.
"Dom really likes this owner, he really likes the way he's been
treated ... We're all exploring our options," Winter said. "It
doesn't mean that Hasek's leaving Buffalo. Who knows? The
discussions are more complex than just that."
Hasek made his intentions clear at the NHL Awards ceremonies in Toronto when he said he wanted to play at least one more season and with a contender. He declined to comment when asked if he considered the small-market Sabres could be considered a contender.
To mollify Hasek, the Sabres, who lost an estimated $20 million last season, would then have spend more money to land at least one of the high-profile free agents that will potentially be on the market on July 1.
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