Hasek Ends Stellar Two-Decade Career

Dominik Hasek, one of the most accomplished goaltenders in history, will retire to the Czech Republic as a Stanley Cup champion.

“The Dominator” made the announcement Tuesday, nearly two weeks after topping off an impressive resume with the elusive title at the end of a one-season stop with the Detroit Red Wings.

“Winning the Cup has been everything I could ever ask for,” Hasek said. “After 21 years of playing professional hockey at the highest level, I do not feel that I have enough fire in me to compete at the level that I expect of myself.”

Hasek, 37, sought a trade from Buffalo to Detroit because he wasn’t satisfied with his six Vezina Trophies as the NHL’s best goalie, two Hart Trophies as the league’s most valuable player and a gold medal with the Olympic champion Czech Republic at the 1998 Nagano Games.

“It was the best decision I made throughout my hockey career,” Hasek said. “I am and will be a Red Wing forever.”

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Washington hired Bruce Cassidy, who has never spent a day behind the bench in the NHL, as coach.

Cassidy, 37, spent the last two seasons with Grand Rapids in the AHL. He led the Griffins to a division championship and a 42-27-11-0 record in his first year.

He also coached in the old International Hockey League and the East Coast Hockey League.

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Tampa Bay exercised its option on left wing Dave Andreychuk for next season. Andreychuk, 38, led the team with 21 goals. He signed with the Lightning as a free agent in July. Andreychuk has 593 goals and 1,247 points in 20 seasons.... Defenseman Jeff Woywitka, 18, signed a three-year entry-level contract with Philadelphia. He was the team’s first-round pick in the 2001 draft.