Fedorov leaving the wings leaves the door wide open for hatcher

[jayC]

Wednesday, July 2
Updated: July 3, 8:44 AM ET

Fedorov's 13-year reign in Motown ending

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Associated Press


DETROIT -- Sergei Fedorov's agent said the high-scoring forward will not return to the Detroit Red Wings next season.


"We made it official today that Sergei is ready to move on," agent Pat Brisson said Wednesday.


Negotiations between the 33-year-old unrestricted free agent and the Red Wings did not progress in the days leading up to Monday's deadline before free agency.

And Hatcher's Decision?
ESPN The Magazine's E.J. Hradek reports Wednesday that Dallas Stars defenseman Derian Hatcher will likely make a decision as early as Thursday on where he will play for the 2003-2004 season.

Hatcher, a Michigan native, has an offer on the table from the Detroit Red Wings, but will give the Stars one more opportunity to match or better Detroit's deal.


Brisson said he has been talking to several teams he declined to identify. "We're going to do what's necessary for him to be in the right environment,'' he said.


Brisson gave the news to Detroit general manager Ken Holland.

"I told him and we went over this ... and we're moving on,'' Brisson said.

Holland told the Detroit Free Press, "Obviously he was a great player for us for a lot of years. I thought we made tremendous offers. It's unfortunate that Pat and Sergei feel this way."


Fedorov spent his first 13 NHL seasons with the Red Wings. He scored 400 goals and added 554 assists.

Fedorov won the Hart Trophy as the league's most valuable player in 1994 and the Selke Trophy as the league's best defensive forward in 1994 and 1996.


Detroit won the Stanley Cup three times with Fedorov _ in 1997, 1998 and 2002.


Federov leaving detroit gives detroit the green light to offer hatcher a contract espn reporting a 5 year 6 million a year deal.


Red Wings reportedly offer five-year deal

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ESPN.com news services


While Sergei Fedorov's stay in Detroit appears to be ending, the Red Wings are making their move on one of the premier free agents on the market.

Detroit has reportedly made an offer to Stars defenseman Derian Hatcher, The Sports Network of Canada reported on its Web site on Thursday.

According to the report, the Wings have offered a five-year deal worth $6 million a season.

ESPN The Magazine's EJ Hradek reported Wednesday night that Hatcher will likely make a decision on his future as early as Thursday.

Will other teams match that lofty offer?

"I think the Red Wings are bidding against themselves," one general manager told TSN.

With the NHL's collective bargaining agreement set to expire after next season, and uncertainty about what will happen after then, Stars general manager Doug Armstrong said the team would avoid any long-term deals until those issues are settled.

Hatcher has played 827 regular-season games and 100 playoff games in his 12-year career, all with the Stars. That includes 23 postseason games in 1999, when the Stars won their only Stanley Cup.

Last season, Hatcher had 30 points (eight goals and 22 assists). He was a finalist for the Norris Trophy given to the NHL's best defenseman.

[Drbio]

I hate that Hatcher is leaving the Stars. This sucks.

[MFFL]

Hatcher, a Michigan native, has an offer on the table from the Detroit Red Wings, but will give the Stars one more opportunity to match or better Detroit's deal.

We wouldn't match an offer to Hatcher from one of our competitors?

Crap!

[jayC]

I heard on the ticket that hatcher is a hated red wing Doh. It would be ironic if federov became a star but it aint happenin. The stars should have waited a year before they made a big splash. Paul Karyia is free, brian leetch is free might be cheaper replacement for hatcher. Funny a year ago everyone swear the stars were closer to the cup at least in the media and the mavs were an injury free nowitzki from winning the championship know they can try to bandaid their defense on the frontline.

[Mandyahl]

i wish we would have matched the offer. but no.