Joseph Likely to Stay in Detroit

With Red Wings goaltender Dominik Hasek’s injured groin not responding to treatment as expected, the future Hall-of-Famer has been told to rest for at least two weeks. This opens the door for Curtis Joseph to remain with Detroit for the remainder of the season.

The Red Wings have been trying to trade Joseph since Hasek returned from his one-year retirement last summer. Unable to move him, the Wings placed him on waivers in December and he was sent to Detroit’s American Hockey League affiliate in Grand Rapids. Hasek was injured just days later and Joseph returned to the Red Wings.

Detroit general manager Ken Holland met with Joseph on Wednesday and told him there was a “very real possibility” that the club would carry three goalies through the end of the season. Holland did state that “nothing is written in stone.”

Hasek will be re-evaluated on January 21. at that time it will be determined if he can resume rehabilitation. No timetable is set for his possible return.

“I feel terribly that I cannot play hockey, at least at this time,” Hasek said. “It’s very sad, and we’ll see… I still believe I can be back and I can be back on the highest level, but don’t ask me when, because I don’t have this answer.”