Sweet-O! We finally got that bruising defenceman we've craved for years, and he cost almost half as much as Fedorov. We still need scoring though. Maybe he should convince current Star, and Michigan native Mike Modano to come as well.



Hatcher signs five-year, $30M deal

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ESPN.com news services


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

Detroit signed free-agent defenseman Derian Hatcher to a five-year, $30 million contract, ESPN The Magazine's EJ Hradek reported Thursday.

The Stars did not offer Hatcher a contract, making him an unrestricted free agent.

With uncertainty about what will happen after the NHL's collective-bargaining agreement expires after next season, 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.

MIKE MODANO WILL NEVER LEAVE MY BELOVED STARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As for Hatcher, he seriosly bolsters the Wings D.

Well they need everything they can get on the blueline now that the Avs have added to an already strong offense.

Very dumb deal... the Wings will probably regret this deal after the new CBA is in place. WHy aren't other places being as smart as Colorado?

Detroit could of got him for a lot cheaper too. They just overpaid so they would be sure to get him.

a pretty bad deal if ya ask me. I also didn't want to see hatcher leave dallas

I wanted to see him leave Dallas but not go to Detroit.

THE WINGS WILL REGRET THIS DEAL?! You guys must hate the Wings or something. Hatcher is such a defensive powerhouse and between him and Hasek The Red Wings have to be favorites. Money might be a problem for small market teams but it isn't for my wings!

Originally posted by IggyWH
Very dumb deal... the Wings will probably regret this deal after the new CBA is in place. WHy aren't other places being as smart as Colorado? "Being as smart as Colorado"? What exactly did they do that was so smart? Have a guy sign for way under what he's worth? And getting one of the best defencemen in the league, who's also a captain, for only 6 million is overpaid? First of all, theres nothing deffinant on what their going to do with the whole CBA thing, and even if there is a cap, the Wings can still trade any of these players for picks or prospects. Thats why these guys aren't getting no trade clausses.

Not that there will be a cap, but revenue sharing is the big thing. The Wings aren't going to be able to spend 60 million on their roster anymore... and with 1 player making 6 million a year now, that's a huge chunk of their future payroll.

Colorado is doing the smart thing. They're signing these guys to 1 year deals because these guys know they're not gonna get a huge contract, so they're looking for a ring.

As for the Stars, Mike Modano was immediatly named Captain to replace Hatcher.

this was a good deal for the wings

IGGY...i dont agree ever with anything you say about mario or the penguins, but you are exactly right about the red wings being stupid with the hatcher deal. i hope the nhl puts a salary cap and revenue sharing in place and then the red wings have to dismantle their team. hopefully the nhl doesnt f*ck up their chance to fix itself liek baseball did.

I think the Wings still need an offensive player now Federov is gone. Only problem is there are none left on the FA market. I'm sure they will get someone when they deal away Cujo though. Maybe they could get Carter out of NY although it looks like NY really wants to keep him.

Does this improve their team? Yes but bottom line is they already had a great defense with Chelios,Lidstrom,Shneider and co. Now they have less money to spend on a forward.

1. The Wings will be dumping Hasek, Yzerman, and maybe Hulls big contracts next season, and that will put them in pretty good shape alone. And if it is a luxury tax, Illitch has already said he'll pay any amount, so that won't hurt them. Why should they be screwed over for building a great team? Hatchers really the only free agent on the team, and he's a big step below what Fedorov was. And why isn't anyone beshing the Rangers, when their payroll is almost 20 million higher, and they can't make the playoffs?

Everybody does bash the Rangers what are you talking about? LOL