[NHL] Who Ever Said Hasek Was A Jerk?

[Ji@nBing]

Just saw this over on NHL.com and was quite surprised. He kinda has a reputation as being a jerk and i don't think many people would imagine him doing this. Very classy move on his part IMO.

Hasek refuses about $3 million of salary while out with injury

DETROIT (AP) - Red Wings goaltender Dominik Hasek has refused to accept about $3 million of his salary because he is out with a groin injury.

Hasek, who announced Feb. 10 that he would miss the remainder of the season with the injury, has not accepted pay since Jan. 9, general manager Ken Holland said Friday.

That was the day Hasek and the team agreed the goaltender should rest the injured groin for two to four weeks.

Hasek tested out the groin in early February, but later said he could no longer play this season. The nagging groin injury limited him to just 14 games after he came out of a one-year retirement.

"He just felt that he wasn't doing what he really had set out to do which is to play hockey and play at a high level," Holland said. "At that time, he told me that he did not want to receive any further salary until he was ready to play."

By Jan. 9, Hasek had received a little more than $3 million of his $6 million salary for the season.

"I think it's an unbelievable gesture," Holland said.

One of the NHL's greatest goalies, Hasek won two MVP awards and six Vezina Trophies, given to the league's top goalie, during a nine-year stint in Buffalo. He also led the Czech Republic to a gold medal in the 1998 Nagano Olympics.

Hasek joined the Red Wings before the 2001-02 season, winning his first Stanley Cup that season. He retired in 2002, but came back to Detroit before this season.

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Edited March 13, 2004 by Ji@nBing

[BroChaos Veteran]

thats cool. i didn't even know he was supposed to be an ass...

[mimeryme]

Didn't know anyone thought he was a jerk either. That's way cool of him to do that though.

[LRoling]

Yeah, a very nice gesture by Hasek. I think if I were to play professionally, had all that money over my career already, and I came back saying I wanted to win a Cup, I may do the same. I mean, I play hockey for my college, play for a club team in Chicagoland, and play in a lot of leagues over the summer in SoCo, and I must say, money is a plus, but it doesn't beat just playing for the love of it.

[Ayepecks]

Erm, where'd you hear he was supposed to be a jerk?

Very classy thing to do, anyways.

[Chris Allen Veteran]

I still think he's weird. Met some ppl who lived near him when he was in Buffalo. They said he would run up and down the neighbours lawns in the AM around 6 or 7 with his son barefoot so the dew would get on their feet. Odd man. Great goalie. Different style.

[BMac]

Ohh wow, $3 million. Woop die doo. He shouldn't get any as he hasn't done anything this year. He's still a jerk in my books.

[BroChaos Veteran]

what did he do that makes you think that?

[Billthy]

in the paper today, they have an article about how he wants to come back and play for the wings next season! its in the detroit news btw

[Ayepecks]

Ohh wow, $3 million. Woop die doo. He shouldn't get any as he hasn't done anything this year. He's still a jerk in my books.

...becauseeeeee?

[quigley0]

He should take the money and donate it. At least get the tax-break!!

[Fantmx]

I'm not so sure this is being done out of his goodwill. I remember earlier that there were rumors floating that he was planning on coming back and getting hurt and taking the money and running. The Red Wings even held a press conference to address that matter.

[Ayepecks]

No they didn't. They never had a press conference to address such a matter.

[BMac]

Ok here's why he's an ass. First off he retires and goes home. While playing shinny with some friends back home he battle axes a guy over the head. That's a jerk to me. Then to avoid charges he comes back to America. Takes CuJo's job. Creates a massive controversy and ends up doing diddley crap. All he was this year was a distraction and a pain in the ass. Can you say jerk?

[Fantmx]

OK, so they didn't call the press conference specifically for that matter. However, a good deal of time was spent addressing the matter.