it’s about damn time.  Hasek was great, but I think his unpredictability causes the Wings not to play as confident in front of him.  plus, his “I need a ton of shots to be in the game” thing doesn’t fit with the way this team plays defense.

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 06/09/08 at 08:01 AM ET

Definitely. I was impressed with how he handled it. Just goes to show you’re never too old to keep growing up.

I think the Hasek Club Car should retain its name for historical purposes. After all, this isn’t Denver, so we won’t be raising his number to the rafters… it’s the least we can do.

Posted by Nathan from Jonny Ericsson's ice cream truck on 06/09/08 at 08:22 AM ET

See ya Dom. Once you were a legend. These days, you’re just a mascot.

Posted by Nate A from Dark side of the moon on 06/09/08 at 08:37 AM ET

Thanks for the memories Grandpa.
Appreciate the mark you’ve left on Hockeytown for sure, alas, it is time to start filling in the ruts behind the cage. Poor Al’s got his work cut out for him.

p.s. I know a particular friend of mine who will be very pleased about Dom’s departure as he claims he does EVERYTHING but show respect when we do the National Anthem.

Posted by Scott H from Kalamazoo on 06/09/08 at 08:38 AM ET

His time and place have become part of the history of this organ-I-zation.
He’s been a goat and a hero, a quitter and a champion. It has been an interesting career for him since his days with the Hawks & being the Man in Buffalo and then to his final years here.
Yes, the time has come to bid farewell to the Czech Miracle of Insanity.
ANd we all owe him a little credit for taking one for the team this year, I honestly didn’t think he had “that” in him....

Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 06/09/08 at 08:57 AM ET

As the CMOI wanders off to life as a dad and a hockey-store owner, let’s salute him for one of the greatest goalie plays of all time.

And how about making this the official song of the Hasek Club Car.

So long you crazy mutherf#*ker!

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 06/09/08 at 10:08 AM ET

OTC your final line there made me think Floyd instead.

“Shine on You Crazy Diamond”

Posted by Nate A from Dark side of the moon on 06/09/08 at 10:21 AM ET

I think the Hasek Club Car should retain its name for historical purposes.

A fitting memorial for a grade-A whackbasket. 

(As well as a pretty decent goaltender from time to time.)

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/09/08 at 10:29 AM ET

OTC your final line there made me think Floyd instead.

Same here, Nate.

Damn Dom, for all his insanity, locker-room poison, THREE stints with this team, and his play that made us all shout at our televisions...he’ll be missed.  The ‘poke-check’ on Gaborik, the team player, the namesake of the club car we all made a mess of during this playoff run...I just don’t think we’ll see his like in goal again, and the world is a little less colorful for it today.

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from the toybox, teaching Stretch Armstrong the butterf on 06/09/08 at 10:43 AM ET

Officially departed.
Don’t forget there was a new train car added late this SCPO run for those non-imbining Wingnuts… The McCarty.

Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 06/09/08 at 11:12 AM ET

The Hasek must live on!  He’s had a great run and this year, when he needed to become a team player...he finally did.  Hat’s off to our CMOI!

Poke check, indeed.

Posted by Rumbear from Sandy Eggo on 06/09/08 at 11:39 AM ET

Who is going to carry Ozzie’s bags now?
Dear Kenny

Posted by HockeyTownTodd from upset when blogs don’t live up to my expectations on 06/09/08 at 11:47 AM ET

Who is going to carry Ozzie’s bags now?
Dear Kenny

who is the goalie you’re referring to?  I could only find one with 35 shutouts...Tom Barrasso.

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 06/09/08 at 12:38 PM ET

oh, duh.  guess I should have clicked the link.

he was disappointed being a backup to Huet.  think he’ll want to be Osgood’s backup here?  Osgood has been gracious, but if we were to bring in another goalie and make Ozzie the backup again - after solidifying this team and taking it to another Stanley Cup - I think he would lose it.  and I wouldn’t blame him one bit.

just for comparison, Osgood has 47 shutouts and a career 2.43 GAA along with a career .907 save % to Kolzig’s .906.

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 06/09/08 at 12:49 PM ET

Being a back-up on a losing team compared to the chance to win a Stanley Cup?

Being a back-up on a new team compared to losing the starter position?

Did you forget the Ozzie/Godzilla hype in the Finals?  Sure, the Caps lost but Olie owed no
apologies for his performance.

Posted by HockeyTownTodd from upset when blogs don’t live up to my expectations on 06/09/08 at 12:59 PM ET

Who is going to carry Ozzie’s bags now?

Hmmm. Let’s see. Kolzig at about $4.5M (assuming he’d even take that) or Howard at about $1.5M plus Stuart at $3M. Kind of a no-brainer, HTT.

Besides, Jimmy needs to get out of the AHL and play in a no-pressure-to-be-#1 situation in order to take the next step. He’ll get 20+ games next season and he’ll learn a ton just being around the team. In 2009-2010, the roles probably will be more like Ozzie and Dom this year...a 50-50 split in games with the better goalie getting to start in the playoffs.

IMHO, I think it’s time for the Wings to start moving all of their NHL-ready talent to Detroit. That’s why, as much as I like Lebda, I hope he gets traded to someone like Carolina who desperately needs a puck-moving defenseman. The offer of a prospect and a trade-up in draft position might get the Wings attention. That way, Meech and Quincy will both get a chance to play with Cheli next year...and it would make room for Ericcson to get some call-up time when an injury occurs.

Anyway, no matter Kenny does, I have no doubt it will turn out to be the right thing.

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 06/09/08 at 01:07 PM ET

While I could see Kolzig working out okay in a platoon system with Ozzie next year (he’s such a team player that he’d take it), I think the cost, when our priorities should be on signing Stuart and Fil, and getting the caculations right for Z and Mule’s contract year (and then possibly making a one-year splash in the free-agent market), really should dictate whether we grab Olie or not.  If he’s serious about wanting to win a Cup, even in a platoon and possibly not as the playoff starter, then he’ll sign for below market value.  If he wants 3.5 million, no leeway, then forget it.  Ozzie backed up by Howard (who IS NHL-ready as long as he’s not shouldering the lion’s share of starts right off the bat) will do us just fine.

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from lost in the mist of the '98 Finals on 06/09/08 at 04:02 PM ET

The best back-ups are Vets nearing the end of their career.  You can’t sit a guy 24 yrs old with no NHL starter experience and only play him 20-30 games.
They need to play often to get the experience required.  A vet knows how to stay in shape and be ready.  If Kenny had 3 good minor leagers he could rotate as back-up that would be a different story.
Glen Hanlon used to joke about being the spare tire, but when he was called upon he always rose to the occasion.  Kolzig was 27 yrs old before he played more than 30 games a season.  Holmqvist-28, Turco was 26 before he saw 31 games.  Tim Thomas-31…
I think you get my direction.

Posted by HockeyTownTodd from upset when blogs don’t live up to my expectations on 06/09/08 at 06:17 PM ET