Post by TOMGUNNER on Jul 2, 2003 20:44:29 GMT -5
Wings pushing hard for Hatcher
TSN.ca Staff
7/2/2003
(TSN.ca) - These are quiet days on the NHL free agent front, but the Detroit Red Wings spent most of the day Wednesday trying to land unrestricted defenceman Derian Hatcher.
NHL sources have told TSN that the Wings have upped their offer to the Dallas captain, putting on the table a five-year deal worth $6 million per season. Earlier indications suggested Detroit had offered Hatcher a four-year deal at $5.5 million per season.
Just how much of a market there is for Hatcher is unclear. "I think the Red Wings are bidding against themselves," said one G.M. contacted by TSN.
Hatcher made $4.2 million last year before becoming an unrestricted free agent this summer. He was a finalist last season in voting for the Norris trophy as the NHL's top defenceman.
While Dallas is still believed to be Hatcher's preferred destination, Detroit would interest the 31 year old, who grew up not far away in Sterling, Michigan.
The Stars broke off negotiations with Hatcher last week, unwilling to offer the 12-year veteran the long term deal he's been seeking. Sources familiar with the talks confirm that Dallas did not make a salary offer of any kind.
It's also believed that Edmonton Oiler veteran Todd Marchant is close to signing a free agent deal, most likely with the New York Rangers who are believed to be offering a contract worth close to $3 million per season.
The Columbus Blue Jackets, however, confirmed Wednesday that they to have an offer on the table to Marchant, who visited Columbus with his family on Tuesday.
Even if Hatcher and Marchant do sign new deals soon, it's been a very quiet free agent season thus far. Through Tuesday and Wednesday, only two unrestricted free agents had changed teams (Jeff Hackett from Boston to Philadelphia and Scott Nichol from Calgary to Chicago).
That's a far cry from last year, when eight players (Adam Oates, Robert Lang, Bobby Holik, Darius Kasparaitis, Martin Gelinas, Philippe Boucher, Curtis Joseph and Ed Belfour) changed teams on the first two days of free agency.
The first two days of July 2001 also saw eight players (Jeremy Roenick, Pierre Turgeon, Martin Lapointe, Sean O'Donnell, Jon Klemm, Bob Boughner, Donald Audette, and Jason Marshall) signed as unrestricted free agents.
A New York Post headline summed up the general feeling at the time, saying: "Idiocy Reigns Supreme".
TSN.ca Staff
7/2/2003
(TSN.ca) - These are quiet days on the NHL free agent front, but the Detroit Red Wings spent most of the day Wednesday trying to land unrestricted defenceman Derian Hatcher.
NHL sources have told TSN that the Wings have upped their offer to the Dallas captain, putting on the table a five-year deal worth $6 million per season. Earlier indications suggested Detroit had offered Hatcher a four-year deal at $5.5 million per season.
Just how much of a market there is for Hatcher is unclear. "I think the Red Wings are bidding against themselves," said one G.M. contacted by TSN.
Hatcher made $4.2 million last year before becoming an unrestricted free agent this summer. He was a finalist last season in voting for the Norris trophy as the NHL's top defenceman.
While Dallas is still believed to be Hatcher's preferred destination, Detroit would interest the 31 year old, who grew up not far away in Sterling, Michigan.
The Stars broke off negotiations with Hatcher last week, unwilling to offer the 12-year veteran the long term deal he's been seeking. Sources familiar with the talks confirm that Dallas did not make a salary offer of any kind.
It's also believed that Edmonton Oiler veteran Todd Marchant is close to signing a free agent deal, most likely with the New York Rangers who are believed to be offering a contract worth close to $3 million per season.
The Columbus Blue Jackets, however, confirmed Wednesday that they to have an offer on the table to Marchant, who visited Columbus with his family on Tuesday.
Even if Hatcher and Marchant do sign new deals soon, it's been a very quiet free agent season thus far. Through Tuesday and Wednesday, only two unrestricted free agents had changed teams (Jeff Hackett from Boston to Philadelphia and Scott Nichol from Calgary to Chicago).
That's a far cry from last year, when eight players (Adam Oates, Robert Lang, Bobby Holik, Darius Kasparaitis, Martin Gelinas, Philippe Boucher, Curtis Joseph and Ed Belfour) changed teams on the first two days of free agency.
The first two days of July 2001 also saw eight players (Jeremy Roenick, Pierre Turgeon, Martin Lapointe, Sean O'Donnell, Jon Klemm, Bob Boughner, Donald Audette, and Jason Marshall) signed as unrestricted free agents.
A New York Post headline summed up the general feeling at the time, saying: "Idiocy Reigns Supreme".