Goodbye McCarty

[Tigers#1]

Red Wings waive three players


July 25, 2005

DETROIT (AP) - The Detroit Red Wings placed defenseman Derian Hatcher and forwards Darren McCarty and Ray Whitney on waivers Monday, effectively cutting ties with the three high-profile veterans.
If the trio go unclaimed, the Red Wings have the option of buying out their contracts and making them unrestricted free agents.

"They've been a big, big part of our franchise," Red Wings assistant general manager Jim Nill said. "This is just a part of doing business right now with the new CBA."

The NHL's new collective bargaining agreement features a $39 million salary cap, and teams were granted a six-day window on Saturday to shed cumbersome contracts. The 33-year-old Hatcher, a former Dallas Stars captain, signed with Detroit as a free agent before the 2003-04 season. Considered at the time to be one of the best all-around defensemen in the league, the big, bruising Hatcher had little impact with his hometown team, tearing a knee ligament in the third game and missing the majority of that season.

Whitney, 33, also signed as a free agent with the Wings during 2003. He had 24 goals and 52 assists the season before with Columbus, and the Red Wings hoped he could fill the void created when Sergei Fedorov signed with Anaheim. With Detroit in 2003-04, Whitney managed 14 goals and 29 assists.

McCarty, who has spent his entire 11-year career with Detroit, is a fan favorite whose style of play embodies the blue-collar spirit of the city. The 33-year-old McCarty won three Stanley Cups with the Wings and scored the series-winning goal against Philadelphia in 1997.

"He's a hardworking, roll-up-your-sleeves kind of guy," Nill said. "He's really what the city's all about. He came every night to play hard. He was a big part of our success."

[Teddy Ballgame]

- T - Yes, McCarty was a popular grinder but too long in the tooth and pricey to fit easily under the new teams' salary caps. We may have the same situation happening in Toronto with the immensely popular but pricey, long in the tooth grinder Ti Domi whom the Leafs will likely set adrift. If this happens, a sizable number of fans here will go berserk and cause a commotion that would make The Boston Tea Party seem as tame an affair as High Tea at The Dorchester in London.

[~*TiGeRs f@N*~]

:( I loved McCarty, he's always been my favourite player. It was always so cool being able to see a local boy play this great game. He was such a nice guy as well, I've met him on a few occasions and he even came to visit me in the hospital when I had one of my several surguries. A real classy guy.

[Tigers#1]

I know he hasn't done anything in a few years, but it still hurts. He is/was huge in the comunity. The McCarty Cancer Foundation has raised millions. His rock band is big in the area. And he was one of the key components to the Av's rivalry.

And it won't be long before his buddy Bobby Higginson is out of town either.

[Tigers#1]

Datysuk may opt to play in Russia this season
Tuesday, July 26, 2005

DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings appear to have some serious competition in their bid to retain star center Pavel Datysuk.

According to Datsyuk's agent, Gary Greenstin, the talented 27-year-old is pondering a lucrative offer from Russian Superleague team, Moscow Dynamo, the club Datsyuk played for during the canceled 2004-05 NHL season.

"We have a great offer," Greenstin said Sunday. "It's huge, big."

He declined to provide details. He continually stressed, however, that Datsyuk's priority is to re-sign with the Red Wings.

Datsyuk is a restricted free agent. Greenstin said he spoke briefly over the weekend with Wings general manager Ken Holland, discussing some contract figures, and will speak again in the next few days.

"My client is one of the best players in the NHL. He deserves a great deal," Greenstin said. "Both Pavel and I would like him to stay in Detroit and finish his career there. But it's a business. Now Detroit has to make a move."

Holland didn't return phone calls seeking comment.

Prior to the start of the lockout last September, Holland said he and Greenstin were "miles apart" in contract talks. Datsyuk earned $1.5 million in 2003-04, a breakout season in which he led the Wings in goals (30) and points (68) and was named to the All-Star team for the first time in his three-year career.

Greenstin said the salary cap makes Holland's task tougher.

"A $39 million cap is not enough for some teams," Greenstin said. "It's not easy for (the Wings). We'd like to be with the Wings, but maybe it's not in our hands. Pavel's proved everything. If they really need him, they have to make the right deal with us."

[I Are Baboon]

Damn, bummer to see McCarthy go. :( Remember that sweet goal he scored against the Flyers in the finals?

As far as Darien Hatcher goes, I never liked him anyway.