Hasek Out For Season

NHL teams

"Once I got on the ice last week, it was almost every day my groin got worse and I knew it's impossible," Hasek said.

Detroit will now ice Curtis Joseph and Manny Legace in the net. The same duo it had last season.

"They're ready to go, the team's ready to go, there will be no more talk of what-ifs," Red Wings coach Dave Lewis said. "I think the feeling is that it's over, the controversy is over."

Hasek retired after Detroit won the 2002 Stanley Cup, and the Red Wings signed Joseph to replace him. Hasek decided to return before this season, leaving the Red Wings with desperately trying to trade Joseph.

No team wanted CuJo because of the two years and $16 million left on his contract and Detroit is now very happy to have him.

"It's very strange the way things worked out," Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said.

When Hasek was healthy, Detroit put Joseph on waivers twice and sent him to its AHL team in Grand Rapids two times.

"We're very, very lucky that he's been a real pro through this," Holland said. "And luckily for us that nobody claimed him."

"Now the uncertainty isn't there anymore, you know what our goalie situation is," forward Kris Draper said. "The picture's a little clearer now."