NEW YORK, Oct. 9 (UPI) -- Former Buffalo Sabres and Detroit Red Wings goaltending great Dominik Hasek said Tuesday he has decided to retire from the sport at age 47.
Hasek, who last played in North America in 2008, told NHL.com he was hoping play in some American Hockey League preseason games while the NHL is in a work stoppage due to a labor dispute.
"I was in touch with one NHL club and I had pretty good feelings about it, but then they called my agent and told him there was no interest from their side anymore," he told the website.
The two-time winner of the NHL Most Valuable Player Award sat out last season completely after appearing in four games for Spartak Moscow of Russia's Kontinental Hockey League during the 2010-11 campaign.
Hasek starred for the Sabres from 1992-2001, collecting six Vezina Trophies as the NHL's top goaltender, when he was traded to the Red Wings.
He led Detroit to a Stanley Cup championship in 2002, retired for one year and then returned, later serving as a backup on the Wings' 2008 title squad.
He also led the Czech Republic to an Olympic gold medal in 1998.
