Will the NHL Give Dominik Hasek Another Chance?

Dominik Hasek wants to make a comeback.

And why not? Players return to the NHL from international leagues all the time. Most of those players aren't 47 years old, however.

Hasek reportedly is interested in returning to the NHL. He last played professionally for Spartak Moscow in Russia's Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), where he led the league with seven shutouts. That was in 2010-2011.

Apparently, Hasek has already courted the Buffalo Sabres about a return. The Sabres declined.

The fact that the Sabres declined isn't really a shock. With Ryan Miller and Jhonas Enroth in goal, the Sabres are pretty well off.

Ritch Winter, Hasek's agent, is confident his client will be in the NHL next season.

“He will play,” Winter told ProHockeyTalk. “There is no option. He will play and he will excel and he will do all of the things he can do."

Dominik Hasek's nickname just about says it all about his 16-year NHL career: "The Dominator" earned that title with stellar play during his peak years with the Buffalo Sabres.

Hasek has 389 career NHL wins, 81 shutouts, a 2.20 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage.

The guy has talent, but he also has age—or to put it more kindly, experience. And, while the Sabres aren't convinced he can play at the NHL level again, other teams apparently are.

Winter says "about a half dozen" NHL teams have inquired about the Czech goaltender.

Hasek was always known for his work ethic and training regimen, but is he ready for another vigorous NHL season? If he is ready, who is going to take that chance?