Dominik Hasek for Backup Goalie

[beTough54]

He is rumored to be looking for 500k a year plus incentives according to Eklund (but let's just assume he is right this time for fun).

Why not? The best player in Sabres history comes back home to help his team win 10-20 games and keep a bit of pressure on Miller. He gets to retire as a Sabre with one final cup ring.

Even at 41 Hasek is better than any other backup currently out there.

[Orange Nation]

I doubt he would welcome a backup role.

[beTough54]

Yeah, I doubt that too, but who is going to give him a chance to start at this point?

[Millertime27]

That would be interesting...................

[beTough54]

The other thing about this is it will give the Sabres the 1 or 2 year breathing room they need to both get Dennis some experience in Rochester and ready for the backup role in the NHL and move Enroth into Rochester in 2 years to get him ready to take over for Miller when Miller hits UFA.

[eweingar]

Ouch. I think I just ripped my groin.

[sukie]

Keenan would start him.

[beTough54]

That was the only team I thought of that would go after him, but he won't have a reason to when he gives us Bouwmeester for Biron ;)

[sukie]

Never gonna happen.

[Scary Good]

Youuuuuu better hope Dom gets a new groin.

[Sabres244]

Keenan would start him.
Most people would...

[SabreGirl]

lol...So Dom wants to start? Let him. He will be injured by Christmas and in comes Miller -- after we've been safely ensconced at the top of the Eastern Conference! Miller can whine, but also get to train with one of the best there is. They both like butterfly so much and drop to their knees early...they'd be a perfect tandem! hehehe

Can you see Ruff if Dom tried to pull his prima donna act? Fireworks!

[Sabres244]

I'd start Miller over Dom, just to insult Dom and I like Miller more

[Millertime27]

I'd start Miller over Dom, just to insult Dom and I like Miller more


:) Same Here

[bduff54]

the flyers?

[Sabres244]

the flyers?they'll still suck

[SabreGirl]

I'd start Miller too, but I'm just sayin'...Did you see Hasek's first four months last year? He was my fantasy goalie and I cleaned up with him until he got hurt.

It would be awesome to watch him meltdown as Miller's back-up, though.

Not a Dom fan...he's dead to me. *turns head & spits*

[Hockeystud1414]

He is rumored to be looking for 500k a year plus incentives according to Eklund (but let's just assume he is right this time for fun).

Why not? The best player in Sabres history comes back home to help his team win 10-20 games and keep a bit of pressure on Miller. He gets to retire as a Sabre with one final cup ring.

Even at 41 Hasek is better than any other backup currently out there.
I'm not bringin that ****er back here...I'd rather have Martin Prusek, or even Mike Dunham. Hasek is a bum who will pull his groin early on.....That's not a good idea at all bringing him back, I know he might be cheap now but he can't come back to Buffalo, after all that's happened.

[Millertime27]

He's too old to be a starter any more. The only thing he would be good for is advice and playing a couple games during the season. If you are going to claim Hasek as your starter you better have a good back up. Remember Emery??

[BDNS]

This would actually make sense...when healthy, he's STILL one of the best goaltenders in the NHL. Look at his numbers last year.

Of course, he has a problem staying healthy.

Which wouldn't be a problem if he wasn't the #1. Give Miller 50-60 games, and Hasek 20-30 games. Once the playoffs start, throw Hasek a game out of every 4 or so. That would give us the best goaltending tandem in the whole NHL, IMO.

Plus, as much as it pains me to even think of this possibility, it isn't uncommon for rookie goaltenders to have fantastic rookie campaigns only to see them fizzle out in their second year (think Hedberg and Boucher). Having a Hasek back there would be one hell of a security blanket.

[SabresFan220]

I actually wouldn't mind seeing Dom return as Miller's backup, but would he embrace a backup role that sees him on the bench for 60 games? Unless Miller gets hurt again Dom wouldn't see more than 25-30 games at most. Of course only playing once or twice every 10 games or so he's less likely to be injured. If he were willing to sign cheaply and not complain about not playing a lot, I'd do it. It gives him a chance to redeem himself to the city that gave him his career and perhaps retire in a Sabres uniform where he belongs. The animosity between Sabres fans and Dom will melt away after his 1st great performance back in a Sabres uniform. I say go for it if he's willing to play backup and not complain.

[dasaybz]

He is rumored to be looking for 500k a year plus incentives according to Eklund (but let's just assume he is right this time for fun).

Why not? The best player in Sabres history comes back home to help his team win 10-20 games and keep a bit of pressure on Miller. He gets to retire as a Sabre with one final cup ring.

Even at 41 Hasek is better than any other backup currently out there.
Why not?

Cause he destroyed our locker room once already.
****em

[Iggy72]

I actually wouldn't mind seeing Dom return as Miller's backup, but would he embrace a backup role that sees him on the bench for 60 games? Unless Miller gets hurt again Dom wouldn't see more than 25-30 games at most. Of course only playing once or twice every 10 games or so he's less likely to be injured. If he were willing to sign cheaply and not complain about not playing a lot, I'd do it. It gives him a chance to redeem himself to the city that gave him his career and perhaps retire in a Sabres uniform where he belongs. The animosity between Sabres fans and Dom will melt away after his 1st great performance back in a Sabres uniform. I say go for it if he's willing to play backup and not complain.

I'd agree to this if and only if Regier and Ruff make it clear to everyone (especially Ryan Miller) that Dom is the back up. The team must know that Ryan is the guy, and that Dom is merely ending his career in the place where he was at his peak. If this messes with Ryan as a starter, this will make the Ryan-Marty-Mika triangle look like a cake walk.

However, if Dom accepts the back up role and spots Ryan his 25-odd games, then this might work.

Pax.
Iggy72

[two4trippn]

Dom is done with Buffalo and it would be a mistake to even dress him in our new unis. If Biron leaves, you else was here from the Blue & Gold original days.

[richguy49]

Either his career is over or the GM that signs him as a #1 career's is over.

[Woody]

If somehow Dom could have a bullet-proof groin surgically installed I would welcome him back. But you know that can't happen... so good luck in the after-life, Dom. :niterider

[SHINEdown30]

I would love to see Dom back here again.Will it happen.......probably not!

[BuffaloSoldier2]

No offense, but this is a terrible idea. On paper, this would look great. But Hasek's ego is way too big to be a backup. You're not going to train all offseason at 42 to play 20 games. Plus, the minute Miller has a few bad games, everyone will be calling for Hasek. Miller just got finished with a goalie controversy with Biron. It would be even harder when you have the one of the best goalies in franchise history and ever peering over your shoulder. Besides if Hasek wants to play, some team will give him a shot to be a starter.

[Thumper]

Its not a good idea to consider a return of Hasek to Buffalo.

I think that would create a whirl-wind of too many "what if" scenario's in which distraction's for the team turns into more negatives than positives. If anyone in the Sabres organization is even considering this, which I doubt, they need to realize they could have a lower scale T.O. situation on their hands.

Say Miller gets hurt, and Dom comes in and steals the show, ala Biron of last season for 15 games or so. You've just put the biggest pair of shoes in the Sabres organization for the last 12 years or more onto Ryan Miller's feet. Even having Hasek's giant shadow over Miller with Hasek just sitting on the bench, watching his Ryan's every move seems like too much of a distraction for any of this to be worth it.

He's a high profile player. This teamis successful because there are no high profile players on this team. Now, most of you want to bring a bonafied headcase into a nearly perfect locker room? No thanks. 1 bad apple...

[Dontdieman]

Its not a good idea to consider a return of Hasek to Buffalo.

I think that would create a whirl-wind of too many "what if" scenario's in which distraction's for the team turns into more negatives than positives. If anyone in the Sabres organization is even considering this, which I doubt, they need to realize they could have a lower scale T.O. situation on their hands.

Say Miller gets hurt, and Dom comes in and steals the show, ala Biron of last season for 15 games or so. You've just put the biggest pair of shoes in the Sabres organization for the last 12 years or more onto Ryan Miller's feet. Even having Hasek's giant shadow over Miller with Hasek just sitting on the bench, watching his Ryan's every move seems like too much of a distraction for any of this to be worth it.

He's a high profile player. This teamis successful because there are no high profile players on this team. Now, most of you want to bring a bonafied headcase into a nearly perfect locker room? No thanks. 1 bad apple...


:n4clapping: great post

[Carl J. Ironsides]

I don't want any goalie coming in who could potentially make Ryan Miller feel uncomfortable. Hasek is the poster child for the backup I don't want, even though he still has plenty of game left. In the end, a guy like Manny Legace, Mike Dunham or Bobby Boucher would be fine --Brian, of course. That's an obvious "Waterboy" joke.

[Hockeystud1414]

It is a terrible idea to think about bringing Hasek back.....I would rather have Manny Legace, or anyone. Hasek's career is over....He is a bum with a dead groin. **** him......We need someone who is a proven back-up and can accept the role. Big name or not, this is not a good idea. Just the idea of ''HASEK TO BUFFAlO'' is just a black eye....this signing would hurt the team if anything...

[SabresFan220]

Well we have to see just how cheap Manny Legace is willing to sign for, the poor bastard has gotten no calls since the start of free agency. I suppose he thinks himself a starter, but he was playing the Blues, Hawks, Jackets, and Preds a total of 24 games last year, not exactly difficult. He would still be a solid backup and I wouldn't mind him here, I don't know what kind of ego the guy has, would he accept a backup role? And if we keep him waiting how far down will his asking price go just to get an NHL job?

[Thumper]

Legace is a great option for backup. He may be a better insurance policy than Biron. Actually, I think he IS a better insurance policy than Biron.

The question is how much and also, I would tend to think that Legace thinks he should start. But maybe he's been humbled a bit during the offseason with the lack of interest in his services from teams who need starting goaltenders.

Florida will sign either Biron or Legace. Same with the Blues, although I have a feeling the Blues will snag Hasek.

[SHINEdown30]

Legace is a great option for backup. He may be a better insurance policy than Biron. Actually, I think he IS a better insurance policy than Biron.


Better insurance policy than Biron? How do you figure? Having Biron is like having two starting goaltenders on our team!

[Thumper]

Better insurance policy than Biron? How do you figure? Having Biron is like having two starting goaltenders on our team!

So is having Legace. He had the 8th best save percentage in the entire league last season (.915) 51 games played.

Biron is in the 19th slot with only 35 games played (.905).

Legace is a better option.