| Dominik Hašek | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Hockey Hall of Fame, 2014 | |||
 Hašek with theDetroit Red Wings in 2008 | |||
| Born | (1965-01-29)29 January 1965 (age 60) Pardubice, Czechoslovakia | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||
| Weight | 166 lb (75 kg; 11 st 12 lb) | ||
| Position | Goaltender | ||
| Caught | Left | ||
| Played for | |||
| NHL draft | 199th overall,1983 Chicago Black Hawks | ||
| Playing career | 1980–2011 | ||
Dominik Hašek (Czech:[ˈdomɪnɪkˈɦaʃɛk],audioⓘ; born 29 January 1965) is a Czech formerice hockey player who was agoaltender for 16 seasons in theNational Hockey League (NHL), mostly for theBuffalo Sabres. Widely regarded as one of the best goaltenders in history, Hašek also played for theChicago Blackhawks,Detroit Red Wings, andOttawa Senators in his NHL career before finishing his career in Europe. While in Buffalo, he became one of the league's finest goaltenders, earning him the nickname "The Dominator". His strong play has been credited with establishing European goaltenders in a league previously dominated by North Americans.[1] He is a two-timeStanley Cup champion as a member of the Red Wings, winning his first one as the starting goaltender and his second one as the backup.
Hašek was one of the league's most successful goaltenders of the 1990s and early 2000s. From1993 to2001, he won sixVezina Trophies, the most under the award's current system of voting for the best individual goaltender. In1998 he won his second consecutiveHart Memorial Trophy, becoming the first goaltender to win the award multiple times. During the1998 Winter Olympics inNagano, Japan, he led theCzech national ice hockey team to its first and onlyOlympic gold medal. The feat made him a popular figure in his home country and prompted hockey legendWayne Gretzky to call him "the best player in the game".[2][3] While with the Red Wings in2002, Hašek became the first European-trained starting goaltender to win the Stanley Cup.[4][5] In the process, he set a record forshutouts in a postseason year.
Hašek was considered an unorthodox goaltender, with a distinct style that led to him being labeled as a "flopper".[6] He was best known for his concentration, foot speed, flexibility, and unconventional saves, such as covering the puck with hisblocker rather than histrapper.[6] Hašek holds the record for highest NHL careersave percentage (0.9223) and is seventh (first in the modern era) ingoals against average (2.202). He also has the third-highest NHL single-season save percentage (0.9366 in1998–99), behindTim Thomas in 2010–11 andBrian Elliott's 0.940 in 2011–12.[7][8] Hašek is the only goalie to face the mostshots per 60 minutes and have the highest save percentage in the same season, which he achieved twice (1996 and 1998) playing for the Sabres.
At the time of his retirement, he was the oldest active goaltender in the NHL at 43, and the second-oldest active player in the league after Red Wings teammateChris Chelios, who was 46. Hašek announced his retirement on 9 June 2008,[9] but on 21 April 2009, he announced a comeback to professional hockey and signed a contract withHC Pardubice of theCzech Extraliga.[10] On 7 June 2010, he signed withSpartak Moscow of theKHL and played the last season of his career with this team.[11] Hašek announced his second retirement on 9 October 2012.[12] Hašek was inducted into theHockey Hall of Fame on 17 November 2014.[13] He is also a member of theCzech Ice Hockey Hall of Fame and theIIHF Hall of Fame. His number was retired by the Buffalo Sabres (2015) andHC Pardubice (2013).[14] In 2017, he was named one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' in history.
Hašek was born Dominik Kaštánek to Alois and Marie. When he was two his parents divorced, and Marie later married Jan Hašek, who adopted Hašek.[15] Hašek started playing hockey at the age of six in his nativeCzechoslovakia. As he explains:
They held a tryout for 5-year-old boys and my father took me there. I didn't even have real skates. I had those blades that you screwed onto the soles of your shoes, but I was tall, and the 9-year-olds didn't have a goalie, so they put me in with them and that's where I fell in love with the game of hockey.[16]
In 1980, Hašek joined the top hockey league in the country, theCzechoslovak Extraliga, with his hometown team,HC Pardubice. He became the youngest hockey player in history to play at the professional level at age 16. He helped to win two league titles in 1987 and 1989. The next year, he was conscripted in the Czechoslovak Army and played for an army teamDukla Jihlava. After making his mark and eventually playing for the Czechoslovak national team, Hašek entered the NHL draft and was drafted by theChicago Blackhawks in1983. At the time, NHL teams were wary of drafting players from behind theIron Curtain who were often barred from playing in NHL by their countries. Consequently, Hašek was picked in the 10th round (199th overall) and was the 17th goaltender selected. Hašek did not even know he had been drafted until several months later.[17]
Hašek played on the Czechoslovakia team in the1988 Winter Olympics, featuring in games againstFinland andCanada as the team finished sixth overall.[18]
Until 1990, Hašek played in his native Czechoslovakia for HC Pardubice andDukla Jihlava. He won theGolden Hockey Stick, given to the most valuable player in the Extraliga, in 1987, 1989 and 1990. He was named the Extraliga's Goaltender of the Year for four consecutive years from 1986 through 1990.[19] His American career began with theIndianapolis Ice of theInternational Hockey League (IHL), where he played parts of two seasons. His NHL debut with the Blackhawks finally came in the1990–91 season, seven years after the 1983 NHL Entry Draft.[20][21]
In Chicago, Hašek spent time as the backup toEd Belfour, and played only 25 games over two seasons with the Blackhawks, splitting time between the Blackhawks and the Indianapolis Ice of the IHL. On 6 November 1990, wearing the number 34 (31 was worn by backup goaltenderJacques Cloutier that year), Hašek made his first NHL start in a 1–1 tie against theHartford Whalers.[22]His first victory came on 8 March 1991, by a score of 5–3 over the Buffalo Sabres, and on 9 January 1992, he recorded his first shutout in a 2–0 win against theToronto Maple Leafs.[22] During this time with the Blackhawks, his goaltending coach wasVladislav Tretiak,[23] who was selected in the 1983 draft but was barred from playing in the NHL by the Soviet government.[24] Hašek appeared in game 4 of the1992 Stanley Cup Finals against thePittsburgh Penguins, after Belfour allowed two goals on four shots in the opening 6:33, and had 21 saves.[25] Although the Penguins won and clinched the Stanley Cup, Hašek's performance attracted the attention of the Sabres, who had considered trading for him earlier that season.[26]
After the Stanley Cup Finals appearance, Chicago decided to stay with Belfour andJimmy Waite,[27] and traded Hašek to the Buffalo Sabres on August 7, 1992, for goaltenderStéphane Beauregard and future considerations, which later materialized into a draft pick used to obtainÉric Dazé.[28][29] In Buffalo, wearing number 39,[30] he was initially the backup goaltender, playing behindGrant Fuhr. When Fuhr was injured partway through the1993–94 season, Hašek was elevated to starter and soon developed into a top-tier goaltender.[31] In 1994, he won his firstVezina Trophy,[32] was runner-up for theHart Memorial Trophy and shared theWilliam M. Jennings Trophy with Fuhr.[33] Hašek played 58 games with a league-best 1.95goals against average (GAA), seven shutouts, and a .930save percentage. He followed this feat by again winning the Vezina Trophy and again placing as a Hart finalist in1994–95.[20]
Hašek's success in the1996–97 season was overshadowed by a conflict with then-head coachTed Nolan. The conflict created a tense, clique-like atmosphere in the Sabres' clubhouse.[34]In Game 3 of the Sabres' best-of-seven first-round playoff series against theOttawa Senators, Hašek removed himself in the second period and was replaced bySteve Shields.[35] Hašek suffered a mild sprain of his rightMCL, and the team doctor pronounced him day-to-day. However, the media and some teammates speculated Hašek was using his injury to bail out on the team.[34] One such individual wasBuffalo News columnistJim Kelley, who wrote a column detailing Hašek's injury and his conflict with Nolan, and questioning the goaltender's mental toughness.[36] When Kelley approached Hašek for an interview after a loss in Game 5, Hašek physically attacked the journalist[36] and received a three-game suspension and a $10,000 (US) fine as a result of the incident.[37] With Shields in goal, the Sabres fought back against the Senators and took the series in seven games.[37] However, Hašek did not play in the following series against thePhiladelphia Flyers, which Buffalo lost in five games.[38]
Though general managerJohn Muckler was named Executive of the Year, he was fired for his constant feuding with Nolan. Hašek, who sided with Muckler, stated in an interview during the 1997 NHL Awards ceremony that the team would benefit from replacing Nolan.[39]Although Nolan won theJack Adams Award as the league's top coach and was popular with Sabres fans, new general managerDarcy Regier only offered him a one-year contract extension. Nolan rejected the offer on the grounds that it was too short and parted ways with the franchise. This upset many fans, who blamed Nolan's departure on Hašek's alleged attempt to get rid of him.[40]For the first six weeks of the next season he was booed so vigorously that arena workers would play tapes of a crowd cheering to help balance it out.[41]As the season progressed, the booing of Hašek ceased, as he posted a league-record seven shutouts in December and continued to play at an elite level.[42] He won the Vezina Trophy again, as well as theLester B. Pearson Award and the Hart Trophy as league MVP.[20] He became one of the few goaltenders in NHL history to win the Hart, alongsideJacques Plante,Carey Price,Chuck Rayner,Al Rollins,José Théodore andRoy Worters.[43]
Hašek played a career-high 72 games in the1997–98 season, and set a team record with 13 shutouts. Six of these shutouts came in December, which tied the all-time NHL record for most in one month.[44] He again won the Lester B. Pearson Award, the Hart Trophy, and the Vezina Trophy, becoming the first goaltender in NHL history to win the Hart twice. He donated the $10,000 prize money after winning the Pearson Award in 1998 to theVariety Club of Buffalo.[44] In the off-season he signed a three-year, $26 million deal, securing the highest goaltender salary contract at that time.[45]
In1998–99, Hašek averaged a career-best 1.87 GAA and .937 save percentage, capturing him his third consecutive Vezina, and fifth overall. He was also a finalist for the Hart and Pearson trophies. Though the Sabres did not have a stellar regular season and finished with the seventh seed in theEastern Conference, they defeated the Ottawa Senators,Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs in the playoffs en route to a best-of-seven Stanley Cup Finals against thePresidents' Trophy-winningDallas Stars. The Sabres eventually lost the series four games to two, with the decisive sixth game being one of the longest Stanley Cup playoff games in NHL history. Hašek and Ed Belfour made 50 and 53 saves, respectively, in a sudden-deathtriple-overtime duel that only ended whenBrett Hull scored a controversial Cup-winning goal with his skate in thegoal crease.[46]
The goal was not reviewed immediately, so officials did not notice Hull's skate in the crease until minutes later. After video reviews showed Hull's position, the goal was still upheld, leaving the Sabres infuriated. Hašek commented, "Maybe [the video goal judge] was in the bathroom. Maybe he was sleeping. Maybe he doesn't know the rule."[47] The following season, NHL commissionerGary Bettman announced that video replays would no longer be used to judge if players are in the crease or not, and that it would be a judgment call by the officiating crew. After the season ended, Hašek contemplated retirement because of a combination of injuries and a desire to become more involved in his family life.[48] The announcement stunned many of his teammates, particularlyMichael Peca andJason Woolley.[48]
In the1999–2000 season, Hašek was hampered by a nagging groin injury.[49] He missed forty games and failed to win a major NHL award for the first time in several years. Though he healed in time for the playoffs, the Sabres were eliminated in the first round in five games by the Flyers. In2000–01—his final season with Buffalo—Hašek set a modern era record by collecting his sixth Vezina Trophy. He also won his second William M. Jennings Trophy. The Sabres played Philadelphia in the first round of the playoffs again, where Hašek outplayed his 1998 Olympic back-upRoman Čechmánek.[50] In the clinching sixth game, Hašek recorded a shutout against the Flyers.[50] In the second round, the Sabres played a seven-game series againstMario Lemieux's Penguins, which culminated with the Penguins winning the final game in overtime.[51]
Before the start ofthe next season, Hašek was traded to the Detroit Red Wings on June 30, 2001, in an attempt to lower the Sabres' payroll and to send Hašek to a more competitive team.[1] He was dealt forVyacheslav Kozlov, a first-round selection in the2002 NHL Entry Draft and future considerations, which eventually became the draft pick ofJim Slater. During hisfirst season with Detroit, Hašek posted a career-high 41 wins with just 15 losses,[52] helping the Red Wings earn the President's Trophy with the league's best record. In the playoffs, he led the Wings past theVancouver Canucks, theSt. Louis Blues, theColorado Avalanche and eventually theCarolina Hurricanes in the finals to win theStanley Cup. During the Conference Finals against Colorado, he became the first goaltender to be awarded an assist on an overtime game-winning goal in the post-season after passing the puck to Wings captainSteve Yzerman, who then assistedFredrik Olausson in scoring the final goal of the third game of that series.[53] He also set a record for most shutouts in a post-season with six,[17] broken the year after byMartin Brodeur with seven.[54]
That summer, Hašek officially announced his retirement on June 25, 2002, so that he could spend time with his family and other hobbies.[55]However, after Detroit's first-round loss to theMighty Ducks of Anaheim in thefollowing season, he expressed his desire to play again. The Red Wings picked up the option on his contract on July 1, 2003, and this created a difficult situation for the Red Wings, who had two years left onCurtis Joseph's three-year $24 million contract, which had a no-trade clause. Detroit was also under pressure knowing that the rival Avalanche would be looking for a goaltender of at least equal talent to replacePatrick Roy after his retirement on May 28, 2003.[55] WithManny Legace also on the Wings' roster, Detroit now had three potential starting goaltenders.[56]
In the2003–04 season Hašek injured his groin after playing just 14 games. On 9 January, he and the team agreed he should rest his injury for two to four weeks. Hašek privately told general managerKen Holland that he would not accept any pay while he was injured. On 10 February, he announced that he was not going to continue to play that season, surprising the Red Wings management.[57] He eventually revealed that he refused about $3 million of his $6 million salary.[58] In April 2004, he underwent groin surgery inPrague, and returned to his hometown of Pardubice to recuperate.[59]
After his contract with the Red Wings expired,[60] Hašek announced his intention to play for a Stanley Cup contender, and specifically named the Ottawa Senators as a possibility.[61] On 6 July 2004, after tradingPatrick Lalime to the St. Louis Blues, the Senators signed Hašek to a one-year deal.[62]
During the2004–05 NHL lockout, Hašek toured with the Primus Worldstars. Similar to thetour Wayne Gretzky andIMG formed during the1994–95 NHL lockout, the Primus Worldstars Tour ran 7–23 December, playing in seven different countries (Riga, Latvia; Moscow and St Petersburg, Russia; Bratislava, Slovakia; Bern, Switzerland; Karlstad, Jönköping and Linköping, Sweden; Oslo, Norway; Katowice, Poland) in ten scheduled games. The tour competed against all-star teams or club teams of each country.[63]
Hašek played increasingly well for the Senators up until the2006 Winter Olympics inTurin. During the season, he reached300 career wins, and his GAA and save percentage were the second-best in the league. Upon departure to Turin, Hašek's equipment was accidentally left behind inOttawa. This caused Hašek to miss a number of practices with theCzech national team. At the Winter Olympics, he injured his rightadductor muscle while making a save in the first qualifying match againstGermany, forcing him to leave the game after only 9 minutes and 25 seconds.[64]Hašek's injury caused him to miss the rest of the regular season and post-season, despite several rumours that he would return in time forthe playoffs. He said that if he were to be re-signed, he would play for a base salary of $500,000 with bonuses.[65]
After the Senators were eliminated in the second round, they opted not to re-sign Hašek.[66]
On 31 July 2006, at the age of 41, Hašek joined the Red Wings for the second time. He signed a one-year $750,000 UScontract, with added bonuses if the team succeeded in the playoffs. He posted 38 wins and a 2.05 GAA while leading the Red Wings tothe number one seed in theWestern Conference. He also broke his own personal record by going 181 minutes and 17 seconds without allowing a goal.[67]Midway through the regular season, the team announced that to avoid injury and preserve Hašek for the playoffs, he would not play on consecutive nights.[68] He played his first consecutive nights of the season on 21 and 22 April against theCalgary Flames in games 5 and 6 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals. Hašek won both games,[69] clinching the series for Detroit.[70] In the next round against theSan Jose Sharks, the Red Wings were on the road and down two games to one,[71] but Hašek held the Sharks to three goals in the next three games.[69] His 28-save shutout in game six was his 13th in postseason play and sent the Red Wings to the Western Conference finals against theAnaheim Ducks.[72] However, Hašek and the Red Wings lost in six games to the Ducks, who eventually defeated the Ottawa Senators for the Stanley Cup.[69][73]
Hašek contemplated retirement in the 2007 offseason, but on 5 July 2007, he signed a one-year contract with Detroit worth $2 million with up to $2 million in bonuses,[74]reportedly turning down $5 million for salary cap room for the rest of the Red Wings' roster.[75]
During the2007–08 season, Hašek was replaced by backupChris Osgood, who had originally been waived by the Red Wings to make way for Hašek as the teams starting goaltender before the 2001–02 season. When Hašek recovered and got back into his stride, Detroit chose to alternate goaltenders in tandem instead of designating either as the backup. Detroit head coachMike Babcock announced that Hašek was to start in the2008 playoffs. Through the first two games against theNashville Predators, the Red Wings were victorious, but after a lackluster performance in the next two, Osgood was in goal for the remainder of the playoffs.[76] Despite expressing disappointment at losing his starting position, Hašek maintained his professionalism in practice and continued to support his teammates, withDarren McCarty citing a close relationship between Hašek and Osgood.[77] Eventually the Red Wings beat the Penguins in six games for the Stanley Cup.[78]
On 9 June 2008, Hašek announced his retirement from the NHL, only five days after winning his second Stanley Cup with the Red Wings, saying he lacked the motivation for another year in the NHL. With Osgood, the two were awarded the William M. Jennings Trophy for fewest goals against on a team in the season.[77]
In April 2009, Hašek once again came out of retirement and signed a one-year contract withHC Moeller Pardubice, the club where he started his long career.[79] In the 2009–10 season he led his team to win the Czech league title. Hašek had three shutouts in the playoffs, one in the finals, while his Pardubice lost just one game in the playoffs before claiming 12 consecutive wins.[80] For the 2010–11 hockey season, Hašek signed a one-year contract withHC Spartak Moscow.[81]
On 15 May 2012, Czech website hokej.cz reported that Hašek had discussed playing forPiráti Chomutov after their promotion to theCzech Extraliga.[82] On 25 May 2012, Czech sport website Deniksport reported that Hašek was considering a return to the NHL, possibly with the Red Wings or Tampa Bay Lightning.[83] However, the start of the2012–13 NHL season was delayed due to the2012–13 NHL lockout and Hašek announced his retirement on 9 October 2012.[84]
The Sabresretired Hašek's #39 jersey prior to a 13 January 2015 game against the Red Wings, making Hašek's number the seventh to be retired in Sabres history.[85] In a ceremony held on 27 January 2017, during the All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles, Hašek was named one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' in history.[86][87]
Hašek's most memorable international performance came in the1998 Winter Olympics, where he led the Czech national team to the gold medal. He allowed six goals in total, with only two of them coming in the medal round. AgainstTeam Canada in the semifinals, Hašek stoppedTheoren Fleury,Ray Bourque,Joe Nieuwendyk,Eric Lindros andBrendan Shanahan in a dramatic shootout win. He then shut out theRussian team 1–0 in the final game, stopping 20 shots. He was later announced as the best goaltender in the Olympics. After he won the gold, he was quoted as saying:[88]
When the game ended, I just threw my stick. I was so happy. When I saw the flag go up, I saw my whole career flash before my eyes from the first time my parents took me to a game until now.
His play made him one of the most popular figures in the Czech Republic, so much so that residents chanted "Hašek to the castle!" in the streets, referring to thePrague Castle, the seat of thePresident of the Czech Republic. In response to this, Hašek called the presidentVáclav Havel and jokingly told him that his job was not in jeopardy.[89]He also helped to inspire an opera (titledNagano) about the Czech team's gold medal victory,[90]and in 2003,Petr Pravec andLenka Šarounová named anasteroid (8217 Dominikhašek) in his honour.[91]
In the 2006 Winter Olympics inTurin, Italy, Hašek played for just nine minutes and twenty-five seconds, until he injured his right adductor muscle.[92]Despite his absence, the Czechs managed to earn the bronze medal with backup goaltenderTomáš Vokoun,[93] which Hašek received as well.[94]
Hašek had an unorthodoxgoaltending style.[6][95]He was extraordinarily flexible and was jokingly described in aMasterCard commercial as having "aSlinky for a spine".[96]In order to cover the bottom of the net, where most goals are scored, Hašek dropped down on almost everyshot. His "flopping" style saw him flailing in the crease, using every part of his body, including his head, to stop the puck. Hašek occasionally dropped his stick and covered the puck with his stick hand, whereas most goaltenders would use the glove hand instead.[6]In response to the speculation he received from his style, Hašek explained:
They say I am unorthodox, I flop around the ice like some kind of fish. I say, who cares as long as I stop the puck?[16]
Hašek's unique style attracted fans to games.[97]Because of his flexibility, Hašek could make difficult saves that other goaltenders could not[16]—an opposing coach once referred to them as "miracle saves".[97] These types of saves include toe-stops and a maneuver known as the "Hašek roll".[16][98][99] Hašek was also known for his strict regimen ofconditioning.[100] During the off-season between May and September 2006, he lost a considerable amount of weight to increase his flexibility. Hašek was one of the last goaltenders to wear a helmet-and-cage combo rather than a contemporary hybridgoaltender mask.[101] The last few included his former teammate Chris Osgood, who left the NHL three years after Hašek;[102]Rick DiPietro borrowed one of Osgood's helmets for a short time while he recovered from a facial injury.[103]
Hašek and his former wife Alena have a son named Michael (born 1990) and a daughter namedDominika (born 1995). Dominika is the lead singer of the electro-pop bandWe Are Domi, which represented the Czech Republic in theEurovision Song Contest 2022, finishing in 22nd place. In November 2012 Hašek announced his divorce after 23 years of marriage.[104]He divides much of his free time playingsquash andinline hockey, where he plays defense. When he was younger, Hašek played competitive football as a midfielder, and was a junior tennis champion in EasternBohemia.[105]His brotherMartin is also a competitive athlete and played for the Czech Republic football teamAC Sparta Prague before retiring and eventually deciding to coach. Hobby-wise, Hašek claims that he has been a fan of professional wrestling since his Buffalo days, and says that he mostly follows his favorite wrestlers,Stone Cold Steve Austin andDon "The Rock" Muraco.[106]
Because of his formal education, Hašek stands out among Czech sportsmen. He earned auniversity degree after studying history and theCzech language in the Faculty of Education at theUniversity of Hradec Králové, which qualified him to be a teacher, and led him to teach high school classes.[107] Hašek also had a brand of sportswear namedDominator Clothing, which was launched shortly after the Nagano Olympics in 1998. It also had two locations inMichigan for a short time.[108] However, sales were low, and the Dominator brand was forced out of business in 2008.[109]In May 2001, Hašek founded theDominik Hašek Youth Hockey League/Hašek's Heroes, and donated over $1 million to help underprivileged children in Buffalo play hockey.[110]He organized a charity hockey game in Prague in 1998, and donated the profits to hospitals in the Czech Republic.[111]
Hašek was known to appreciate humor to keep team spirits up, and often jokes about his resemblance toCosmo Kramer ofSeinfeld.[112] In the late 1990s, he was featured in aMasterCard commercial that praised his flexibility.[96] On 26 November 2006,Mark Parisi'scomic paneloff the mark featured a comic about Hašek's childhood.[113]
Throughout his long career, Hašek was represented by agentRitch Winter.[44]
Hašek developed an interest in politics following his retirement from hockey, including possibly running forpresident of the Czech Republic in 2023 and 2028.[114][115] He closely followed Czech politics throughout the 2010s before publicly speaking at theJe to na nás! rally in 2019 against Prime MinisterAndrej Babiš. When Babiš visitedIvan Hlinka Stadion inLitvínov to discuss renovations to the arena, Hašek wrote on his Twitter account that he did "not want the Czech national sport to be stained by your name."[116][117] He supportedPetr Pavel in the2023 Czech presidential election; in 2024, Hašek opined that Pavel is "doing an excellent job" and praised him for hispro-Western views and domestic policy.[118]
He wasTOP 09's nominee for the2024 Czech Senate election, running for the 41st district inBenešov. He received 20.28 percent of the vote in the first round, the third most of the six candidates but missing the second round by less than six percent.[119][120]
Hašek is a critic of American PresidentDonald Trump, whom he has called "unpredictable" and linked to "dictatorship, evil, and endless lies."[121][122] In 2020, after Trump suggested aBuffalo man injured by police could be an "ANTIFA provocateur" for theGeorge Floyd protests, Hašek called his words "disgusting" and accusedRepublicans save for SenatorMitt Romney of "hiding like rats."[123] He endorsedKamala Harris in the2024 United States presidential election against Trump.[124] After Trump took office, Hašek criticizedhis administration's friendlier stance towards Russia amidst theRusso-Ukrainian War.[125]
In August 2025, he spoke at a rally organized byMilion chvilek pro demokracii to protestpolitical polarization and warn of foreign interference with the2025 Czech parliamentary election.[126] Hašek pointed to rhetoric made domestically from those like far-right Czech politicianFilip Turek and abroad such as Trump for inflaming political tensions within the country, urging to "not let hatred and violence dictate our politics."[127]
Following theRussian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Hašek advocated for the NHL and Olympics to ban Russians from playing except for those who speak out against it.[128] When the Sabres visited Prague to play in the2024 NHL Global Series, Hašek did not attend the games to protest the league's inaction. He toldThe Athletic afterward that he wrote messages to discuss the matter but received "only a brief response" whereas the league "made no effort to have a dialogue with him." As a result, he decreased his involvement with the NHL since he refused to "be part of an event that is an advertisement for the Russian war."[129] His sentiment extended to other sports as well, such as criticizing theStade Roland Garros for allowing Russian tennis players.[130]
Hašek has visited Ukrainian cities following their liberation from Russian occupation likeIrpin andBucha.[131] He is an "honorary Fella" ofNAFO, a pro-Ukrainian social media movement.[132]
His vocal stances on the war have caused tension with other hockey players and former teammates. He urged fellow CzechLibor Šulák against playing in the KHL and criticized their country's lawmakers for not passing legislation that would prohibit Czech citizens from working in Russia.[133] Ex-Red Wings teammate and Russian politicianViacheslav Fetisov demanded Hašek return the money he received while playing for Spartak Moscow, to which Hašek responded that Fetisov "gave the green light" toRussian war crimes in Ukraine.[134][135] In 2024, he questioned the induction of Russian and former Red Wings teammatePavel Datsyuk into the Hockey Hall of Fame, feeling the timing is inappropriate due to the war unless Datsyuk condemned it.[136]
WhenWashington Capitals captain and Russian playerAlexander Ovechkin, a supporter of PresidentVladimir Putin, set the record for the most career goals in NHL history in 2025, Hašek branded him a "huge advertisement for the aggressive Russian war and other Russian crimes."[137] Hašek tweeted beforehand Ovechkin would soon face the guilt of continuing his NHL career amidst his countrymen's deaths and that the league was culpable for thewar's casualties by letting him play:[138]
In the coming days, a Russian citizen, who has never condemned the Russian imperialist war in Ukraine, will break the @NHL goal scoring record. Because this person has never officially condemned the Russian war and Russian crimes, he will have to live with the knowledge for the rest of his life that because of his public appearance (his game last 3 years and 40 days -since the beginning of the Russian aggressive war) a huge number of people, including his fellow Russian citizens, were killed and maimed in the war. Whether he is happy about it, indifferent to it, or sorry, we do not know. However, what we do know for sure is that the NHL not only enabled him to do this, but even supported him in doing so for 3 years and 40 days! Therefore, the @NHL bears enormous responsibility for the hundreds of thousands (maybe millions) of people killed and maimed in the Russian war in Ukraine. The NHL must pay for this. I would also like to point out that the countries in which this Russian citizen was allowed to play NHL games also bear responsibility for the people killed and maimed. That is, the USA and Canada. These are the facts. Please share so that people understand what responsibility the NHL, the country USA and Canada bear and so that this advertisement for the Russian imperialist war is stopped. Together we can save many human lives.
Former Russian PresidentDmitry Medvedev accused him ofRussophobia and expected "the crazy Czech Hasek" to commit suicide after Ovechkin got the record.[138] Interpreting his words as death threats, Hašek reported Medvedev to theInternational Ice Hockey Federation andInternational Olympic Committee.[139] Czech Prime MinisterPetr Fiala and Foreign MinisterJan Lipavský condemned Medvedev's comments while Interior MinisterVít Rakušan offered protection for Hašek if needed.[140][138]
After Trump and Putin discussed organizing a game between retired NHL and KHL players, Hašek rejected the possibility of taking part when asked by Russian news agencyRIA Novosti in August 2025.[141] He stipulated he would only do so if Putin was convicted on war crimes akin to theNuremberg trials, Ukraine's territorial integrity was restored, andabducted Ukrainian children were brought home. Otherwise, the game would be an endorsement of Russia's crimes.[142]
During an inline hockey game on 18 May 2003, Hašek was accused of assaulting another player. He was playing as a defender for Bonfire Střída when he crosscheckedMartin Šíla. The prosecutor in the case, Lenka Strnadová, ruled two months later that there was no evidence that Hašek intended bodily harm and recommended the case be treated as a misdemeanor, punishable only by fine (US$95 maximum), rather than a felony where jail time would have been possible.[143] Hašek's lawyer Pavel Jelínek announced in a statement that media reports about the incident were exaggerated, with Šíla not having sustained any documented injuries. In October 2003, the country's top prosecutor overruled Strnadová, saying her ruling was unlawful because the case had not been properly investigated. The Pardubice prosecutor's office then investigated the case again, and reached the same decision as Strnadová.[144]
Hašek earned his 300th National Hockey League win on 15 October 2005, in a 5–1 home victory with the Ottawa Senators over the Boston Bruins. He stopped 34 of 35 shots and was holding a shutout until Bruins forwardPat Leahy jammed a loose puck under him three minutes into the third period. He became the twenty-second goaltender to reach the milestone.[6] He is the oldest goaltender in NHL history to post a 30-win season, and in 1997, he became the second goaltender to win the Lester B. Pearson Award for most outstanding player in the league (Mike Liut won the Lester B. Pearson Trophy as the league's MVP as determined by his peers in 1981). He is also the only goaltender to win the Hart Trophy twice for most valuable player, and was only one Vezina Trophy away from tying Jacques Plante's record of seven.[note 1][citation needed]
In nine seasons with the Buffalo Sabres, Hašek acquired over 25 franchise records, including most all-time games played, wins, shutouts and lowest goals against average.[44] He also holds the Sabres' record for most shutouts in a single season with 13 in 1997–98, and lowest goals against average in a single season with a total of 1.87 in 1998–99.[145] During the Detroit Red Wings' championship run in 2002, Hašek set franchise records for most games played, minutes played, wins and shutouts in a playoff year.[146] He holds several notable NHL records:
One of the most impressive single-game performances by any player in NHL history came on 27 April 1994. Hašek made 70 saves in a four-overtime shutout. The opposing goaltender was Martin Brodeur, then a rookie, who made 49 saves before being beaten byDave Hannan, and the Sabres beat New Jersey 1–0, helping them to tie the series 3–3 in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Hašek's 70 saves set a record, which still stands, for the most saves in a game without allowing a goal.[149]
In a 2023 interview,Petr Čech described Hašek as one of his major sporting idols.[150]
Bold indicates led league
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | W | L | T | OTL | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | GP | W | L | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | ||
| 1980–81 | HC Pardubice | CSSR | 9 | — | — | — | — | 598 | 24 | — | 2.98 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1981–82 | HC Pardubice | CSSR | 12 | — | — | — | — | 661 | 34 | — | 3.09 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1982–83 | HC Pardubice | CSSR | 42 | — | — | — | — | 2,358 | 105 | — | 2.67 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1983–84 | HC Pardubice | CSSR | 40 | — | — | — | — | 2,304 | 108 | — | 2.81 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1984–85 | HC Pardubice | CSSR | 42 | — | — | — | — | 2,419 | 131 | — | 3.25 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1985–86 | HC Pardubice | CSSR | 45 | — | — | — | — | 2,689 | 138 | — | 3.08 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1986–87 | HC Pardubice | CSSR | 43 | — | — | — | — | 2,515 | 103 | — | 2.46 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1987–88 | HC Pardubice | CSSR | 31 | — | — | — | — | 1,862 | 93 | — | 3.00 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1988–89 | HC Pardubice | CSSR | 42 | — | — | — | — | 2,507 | 114 | — | 2.73 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1989–90 | Dukla Jihlava | CSSR | 40 | — | — | — | — | 2,251 | 80 | — | 2.13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1990–91 | Indianapolis Ice | IHL | 33 | 20 | 11 | 1 | — | 1,903 | 80 | 5 | 2.46 | — | 1 | 1 | 0 | 60 | 3 | — | 3.00 | — | ||
| 1990–91 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | — | 195 | 8 | 0 | 2.46 | .914 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 69 | 3 | 0 | 2.60 | .923 | ||
| 1991–92 | Indianapolis Ice | IHL | 20 | 7 | 10 | 3 | — | 1,162 | 69 | 1 | 3.56 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1991–92 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 20 | 10 | 4 | 1 | — | 1,014 | 44 | 1 | 2.60 | .893 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 158 | 8 | 0 | 3.03 | .886 | ||
| 1992–93 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 28 | 11 | 10 | 4 | — | 1,429 | 75 | 0 | 3.15 | .896 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 45 | 1 | 0 | 1.33 | .958 | ||
| 1993–94 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 58 | 30 | 20 | 6 | — | 3,358 | 109 | 7 | 1.95 | .930 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 484 | 13 | 2 | 1.61 | .950 | ||
| 1994–95 | HC Pardubice | CZE | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1994–95 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 41 | 19 | 14 | 7 | — | 2,416 | 85 | 5 | 2.11 | .930 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 309 | 18 | 0 | 3.49 | .863 | ||
| 1995–96 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 59 | 22 | 30 | 6 | — | 3,417 | 161 | 2 | 2.83 | .920 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1996–97 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 67 | 37 | 20 | 10 | — | 4,037 | 153 | 5 | 2.27 | .930 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 153 | 5 | 0 | 1.96 | .926 | ||
| 1997–98 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 72 | 33 | 23 | 13 | — | 4,220 | 147 | 13 | 2.09 | .932 | 15 | 10 | 5 | 948 | 32 | 1 | 2.02 | .938 | ||
| 1998–99 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 64 | 30 | 18 | 14 | — | 3,817 | 119 | 9 | 1.87 | .937 | 19 | 13 | 6 | 1,217 | 36 | 2 | 1.77 | .939 | ||
| 1999–00 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 35 | 15 | 11 | 6 | — | 2,066 | 76 | 3 | 2.21 | .919 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 301 | 12 | 0 | 2.39 | .918 | ||
| 2000–01 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 67 | 37 | 24 | 4 | — | 3,904 | 137 | 11 | 2.11 | .921 | 13 | 7 | 6 | 833 | 29 | 1 | 2.08 | .916 | ||
| 2001–02 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 65 | 41 | 15 | 8 | — | 3,872 | 140 | 5 | 2.17 | .915 | 23 | 16 | 7 | 1,455 | 45 | 6 | 1.85 | .920 | ||
| 2003–04 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 14 | 8 | 3 | 2 | — | 817 | 30 | 2 | 2.20 | .907 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005–06 | Ottawa Senators | NHL | 43 | 28 | 10 | — | 4 | 2,584 | 90 | 5 | 2.09 | .925 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 56 | 38 | 11 | — | 6 | 3,341 | 114 | 8 | 2.05 | .913 | 18 | 10 | 8 | 1,140 | 34 | 2 | 1.79 | .923 | ||
| 2007–08 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 41 | 27 | 10 | — | 3 | 2,350 | 84 | 5 | 2.14 | .902 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 202 | 10 | 0 | 2.91 | .888 | ||
| 2009–10 | HC Pardubice | CZE | 36 | 24 | 12 | 0 | — | 2,066 | 77 | 3 | 2.24 | .921 | 13 | 12 | 1 | 785 | 22 | 3 | 1.68 | .937 | ||
| 2010–11 | HC Spartak Moscow | KHL | 44 | 23 | 18 | 3 | — | 2,591 | 106 | 7 | 2.45 | .915 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 204 | 14 | 0 | 4.12 | .864 | ||
| CSSR/CZE totals | 353 | — | — | — | — | 20,487 | 944 | — | 2.76 | — | 13 | 12 | 1 | 785 | 22 | 3 | 1.68 | .937 | ||||
| NHL totals | 735 | 389 | 223 | 82 | 13 | 42,836 | 1,572 | 81 | 2.20 | .922 | 119 | 65 | 49 | 7,317 | 246 | 14 | 2.02 | .925 | ||||
Bolded numbers indicate tournament leader
| Year | Team | Event | GP | W | L | T | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Czechoslovakia | EJC | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3.00 | — | |
| 1983 | Czechoslovakia | WJC | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3.33 | — | |
| 1983 | Czechoslovakia | WC | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 120 | 5 | 1 | 2.50 | — | |
| 1984 | Czechoslovakia | CC | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 188 | 12 | 0 | 4.00 | — | |
| 1984 | Czechoslovakia | WJC | 7 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 380 | 10 | 0 | 1.89 | — | |
| 1986 | Czechoslovakia | WC | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 538 | 19 | 0 | 2.12 | — | |
| 1987 | Czechoslovakia | WC | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 520 | 19 | 1 | 2.19 | — | |
| 1987 | Czechoslovakia | CC | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 360 | 20 | 0 | 3.33 | — | |
| 1988 | Czechoslovakia | OLY | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 217 | 18 | 0 | 4.98 | — | |
| 1989 | Czechoslovakia | WC | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 600 | 21 | 2 | 2.10 | — | |
| 1990 | Czechoslovakia | WC | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 480 | 20 | 1 | 2.50 | — | |
| 1991 | Czechoslovakia | CC | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 300 | 18 | 0 | 3.60 | — | |
| 1998 | Czech Republic | OLY | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 369 | 6 | 2 | 0.97 | .961 | |
| 2002 | Czech Republic | OLY | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 239 | 8 | 0 | 2.01 | .924 | |
| 2006 | Czech Republic | OLY | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 1.000 | |
| Junior totals | 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3.16 | — | |||
| Senior totals | 69 | 32 | 28 | 8 | 3940 | 166 | 7 | 2.40 | — | |||
| Sources:[20][151] | ||||||||||||
| Award | Year(s) |
|---|---|
| NHL | |
| NHL All-Rookie Team | 1992[146] |
| William M. Jennings Trophy | 1994, 2001,2008[152] |
| Vezina Trophy | 1994,1995, 1997, 1998,1999,2001[153] |
| NHL First All-Star Team | 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001[146] |
| NHL All-Star Game | 1996,1997,1998,1999,2001,2002[20] |
| Hart Memorial Trophy | 1997,1998[154] |
| Lester B. Pearson Award | 1997, 1998[155] |
| Stanley Cup champion | 2002,2008[146] |
| One of100 Greatest NHL Players | 2017[156] |
| Czechoslovakia /Czech | |
| Czechoslovak First League Best Goaltender[157] | 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990 |
| Golden Hockey Stick[157] | 1987, 1989, 1990, 1997, 1998 |
| Czech Sportsperson of the Year[157] | 1994, 1998 and 2001 |
| Czech Hockey Player of the 20th century[157] | 1998 |
| Czech Extraliga champion[158] | 2010 |
| International | |
| EJC Best Goaltender Award[159] | 1982 |
| WJC Best Goaltender Award[159] | 1983 |
| WC All-Star Team[160] | 1987,1989,1990 |
| WC Best Goaltender[161] | 1987, 1989 |
| Olympic Games Best Goaltender[161] | 1998 |
| IIHF Hall of Fame | 2015[162][163] |
| IIHF All-Time Czech Team | 2020 |
Among the notable personalities who have been included among the honorary Fellas and who support and recognize the work of NAFO are, for example [...] Among the Czech personalities stand outDana Drábová and Dominik Hašek.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
