panoo

July 4, 2007
FREE PRESS STAFF AND NEWS SERVICES

Dominik Hasek has given the Red Wings his word he'll be back, but he never said it would be for a bargain.

That remains the stumbling block in re-signing Hasek, who, like every other free agent, received a bit of pleasant news last week when the 2007-08 salary cap was announced at $50.3 million.

General manager Ken Holland has spoken on a near-daily basis with Hasek's agent, Ritch Winter, and Winter spoke with Hasek on Tuesday afternoon. Winter wouldn't say anything regarding the negotiations, but Holland has maintained since the weekend the sides are close.

The Wings have about $8 million left to spend, which Hasek's camp obviously knows. Hasek isn't going to get that much, of course, but given the successful season he just completed, he's certainly shooting for much more than the $750,000 he made in base pay in 2006-07, which grew by $900,000 in playoff bonuses.

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