Per MLive:

Former Red Wings goaltender Dominik Hasek has chosen to play for Spartak Moscow of the KHL next season, and Hasek…sounded like himself in discussing the reasons behind his decision with Sport-Express’s Alexander Shapiro:

June 2, Sport-Express (roughly translated):  Dominik Hasek: “I want to try something new”

As SE already reported, within the next few days the well-known Czech goalkeeper Dominik Hasek will arrive in Moscow to sign a contract with Spartak.  And yesterday the Dominator gave an interview to our correspondent.

According to our information, the 45-year-old Dominator will arrive to the capital of Russia together with Milos Riha, the head coach of the capital’s club.  This visit will be a short-term one.  Most likely, they will both depart back to the Czech Republic the same day.

Neither Hasek nor Riha will discuss the situation regarding the contract’s signing with the press, as there’s an arrangement with the club that all comments will be made after the agreement is registered.  Nevertheless this Sport-Express correspondent managed to phone the Olympic champion from Nagano and double Stanley Cup-winner, and asked him to answer some questions.

“I haven’t spoken Russian for a long time, probably twenty years,” Hasek said first of all.

Apparently, you’ve already made your decision on your future?

“While I’ve considered offers from several clubs.  I know that in the Czech Republic they really want me to stay home.  But I, to tell the truth, would like to try something new.  For example, to play in the KHL.  Our experts consider this league to be the strongest in Europe, and it’s probably true.  Excellent players don’t play there without reason.”

And have you talked to Spartak coach Milos Riha about the KHL?

“Yes, Mr. Riha has told me about Spartak.  A lot of interesting things.”

Recently, despite your age, you were named the best player of the Czech Exraliga’s playoffs.  It means one thing: you’re still in excellent shape.

“Anyway, I try to be.  Because I want to play at the highest level for as long as possible.”  (According to Dominator’s personal trainer, Josef Bruk, Hasek is already, three months prior to the start of the European regular season, preparing for the upcoming season–Alexander Shapiro’s note)

The Czech Republic’s national team recently won the World Championship…

“I think that the guys have won the gold by right.  The present team was one where everyone played for each other, one for all, all for one.  We had a real celebration for it.”

Were you surprised about the fact that the best goalkeeper of the World Championships was Germany’s Dennis Endras, not your compatriot, Tomas Vokoun?

“Three goalkeepers, in my opinion, were among the best–Vokoun, Endras, and a Swede.  All of them played at a very high level.”

He heard the next question, regarding his future plans, and Hasek, to my surprise, already said…

“Understand, while all the same, I can’t give a great big interview.  You’ll have to call Pardubice (Hasek’s last club) for permission.”

Pardubice gave its permission, but the great goalkeeper didn’t pick up the phone again…

Per CTV:

The Dominator won’t be representing his country in Vancouver.

One day ahead of the Czech Republic men’s hockey team announcement, head coach Vladimir Ruzicka told CTVOlympics.ca that veteran goaltender Dominik Hasek, who led the country to Olympic gold in 1998, will not be on the roster.

“Dominik won’t make the team,” Ruzicka said in an interview via email. “We have other candidates for the goaltending job in the NHL.

“Since I’ve been asked about our goaltenders, I affirmed that Tomas Vokoun will be Czech’s No.1 (goalie) for the Olympics.”

It was Vokoun of the Florida Panthers who led the country to a bronze medal at the 2006 Games after Hasek injured his right adductor muscle. The country’s starting goalie, Hasek played only 9:25 before he was injured in Torino.

A six-time Vezina trophy winner, Hasek retired from the NHL in 2008 with the Detroit Red Wings after winning the second Stanley Cup of his career, although it was Chris Osgood who started for that championship team.

After a year off, the 44-year-old returned to hockey with a Czech league, hoping to work himself into shape to play at the Olympics. In October, Hasek’s comeback was dealt a blow when he injured his thigh, and he said at the time his chances of playing at the Games were “quite low” as a result of the injury.

The two-time Hart Trophy winner was one of eight goalies nominated by Czech hockey officials as potential candidates for the 2010 team.

Ruzicka and Hasek were teammates on the 1998 Olympic gold medal team. Hasek allowed only six goals during the tournament.

Per NHL.com:

Dominik Hasek has all but ruled himself out of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, according to reports.

Hasek, 44, suffered a thigh injury during weekend play in the Czech league and will be out for at least the next three weeks. In a worst-case scenario, Hasek could miss six weeks.

“With this injury, my chance to participate in the 2010 Olympics is quite low,” Hasek was quoted as saying in the report on CTVOlympics.ca.

Hasek led the Czech Republic to the gold medal in 1998 in Nagano, Japan in the first Olympic tournament featuring NHL players. Hasek, who played to a 2.20 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage in 735 NHL games, also won a Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings in 2008.

He retired after winning that Cup, but returned to action a year later, signing with his hometown team, HC Pardubice, in hopes of re-honing his game to be part of the Olympic picture.

In 15 games this season, he had posted a 2.54 goals against average and a .918 save percentage.

Earlier this year, the Czech Republic Ice Hockey Federation submitted a list of 60 players being considered for the Olympics. That list featured eight goalies, including Florida’s Tomas Vokoun.