We have seen Dominik Hasek retire three times in his Hall of Fame worthy career and now we will witness his third return. Last week’s announcement that the Buffalo Sabres will retire his number next season must have inspired The Dominator to make one final fun at his third Stanley Cup. He will be making his return to NHL with the team that drafted him nearly 31 years ago, the Chicago Blackhawks. Hasek has been working out with Mountfield HK in the Czech Extraliga, the highest level hockey league in the Czech Republic. Reports say Hasek is in the best shape he’s been in for years and has been schooling the Mountfield HK players in practice for months.
Sources tell me that Blackhawks management has been less than thrilled with Antti Raanta’s play since Corey Crawford returned from injury in December. Thanks to the reports from the Blackhawks’ European scouts, they are going to give Hasek every chance to win the starting job before the playoffs begiin. Stan Bowman is tired of hearing about Corey Crawford’s weak glove hand from Blackhawks fans on social media and during the NBC broadcasts and is willing to go to the extreme to win another Stanley Cup.
Antti Raanta will be sent down to Rockford to make room for the six time Vezina winner. Hasek will be in uniform Thursday night as the Blackhawks take on the Minnesota Wild at the United Center. Hasek will put on a Blackhawks jersey for the first time since 1992, when he made 25 starts for Chicago over two seasons. Michal Handzus is said to be the happiest Blackhawk as he finally gets to call somebody in the locker room Grandpa for a change of pace.