As Rainmain might say: 'Hasek. Definitely Hasek. Gotta go with Hasek.'
Cujo's no-trade clause: The Wings could buy out his clause and trade him to the Rangers for peanuts. The Rangers'll take him - they take anyone with a big name. But it might take more than $8 million/year to secure Hasek. So, yeah, this could get worse before it gets better. Other salaries: Maybe it is time to let Federov go. At least let him take a good hard look at the probability of no team - not even the Rangers - paying him more than $10 million/yr. Holland has taken this offer off the table, so if Sergei returns, it'll be somewhere in the 5 year, $40 million range. McCarty: pay him whatever he asks. This is not up for discussion. I don't need to elaborate on this point.
Tiger Stadium: I don't want to talk about it. Should have put the wrecking ball to it when CoPa opened so that we weren't subject to the decay of our monument (the original budget for CoPa prepared for the Michigan Strategic Fund had a line-item of $1.5 million from Illitch for demolition. Obviously the money was spent elsewhere in CoPa). Makes me genuinely sad.
Going in reverse order.
2. I have to prepare myself for the inevitable about TS. Rather like when the Wings are down 3-0 in a series. I just have to let it go.
1. I hadn't heard about Holland pulling the offer from Sam. Interesting. I agree: given the impending lockout, I doubt he'd get more than $10 very large.
However, you are forgetting the wild card here: The possible/probable trade of Jagr to the Rangers. That, believe it or not, would actually free up some income for the Free Spenders in Manhattan. If that trade goes down, expect to see Fedorov in the Big Apple next year. Here's hoping one of the kids is able to step up (Datsyuk, Williams).
As far as Hasek goes, the only reservations I have are about his back and rust. We wouldn't see the Dominator until February or March, probably. Then again, that would be the time to round into shape. Plus, Dom is something of a head case who can turn on a coach. The Master Manipulator is now happily retired, and Lewis has yet to face a real cancer in the lockerroom.
Yes, keep McCarty. Just accept the fact he won't ever be a 25 goal scorer and move on. The intangibles he brings are too important (when you absolutely, positively need someone to step up, he does), and the distance on cash can be bridged by both parties giving up $200K. Get it done.
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