A million to one. That seemed to be the vote on whether Dominik Hasek should return for another season as the goaltender for the Stanley Cup-champion Detroit Red Wings.
Over 1.2 million Red Wings fans chanted "one more year" to Hasek during yesterday's Stanley Cup championship parade.
"I could hear it for half an hour," Hasek said. "They were cheering all the way: 'One more year!' I see the signs: 'One more year! One more year!' "
They're not alone. Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch revealed Monday that he had spoken to Hasek on Saturday and tried to find ways to entice him stay for another season. Teammates have been calling him and speaking to him at parties.
"I've done as much as you can do," Ilitch said. "I want to make it as convenient as possible for him to play one more year. We've tried to take a posture without smothering him. If you come out too strong, he doesn't like that."
After he was acquired from the Buffalo Sabres last summer, Hasek seemed to make clear all season that he was taking one run at the one major hockey trophy that had eluded him -- the Stanley Cup. Now, he has one. Teammates are trying to tell him winning it again is even more fun.
But Hasek has told his family he wants to return to the Czech Republic and they want him to do that.
"This is too much pressure," Hasek said to the crowd, after offering his thanks. "No, no, no more pressure. I want to enjoy the moment."
Ilitch said Hasek told him he would be making his decision within three days of their Saturday meeting so an announcement could come at any time.
"When he says, 'Please, don't put pressure on me,' that means he's thinking hard, he hasn't made up his mind yet," Ilitch said. "He told me (Saturday) he needed three more days. I said, 'Dom, take as much time as you want to make a good decision.' He's like Scotty (Bowman). He doesn't show his hand."
Hasek said he will be leaving for the Czech Republic in about a week and will make his decision by then.
"All these people, they're putting so much pressure on me," he said. "It's hard, especially here with all these people cheering. I don't know. . . . I want to go home, sit with my wife and nobody else and do what is the best for me."
A million fans cheer Red Wings
