Kings Inquired About Hasek

The Kings have talked to the Buffalo Sabres about acquiring goaltender Dominik Hasek, who led the Czech Republic to the Olympic gold medal at Nagano, Japan, in 1998, carried the Sabres to the Stanley Cup finals last spring and twice has been voted the NHL’s most valuable player.

The Kings initiated talks several weeks ago but were told the Sabres had a commitment to Hasek and would not trade him. The Kings left it to the Sabres to call them back if anything changed, and King President Tim Leiweke said the club had not heard from the Sabres as of late Saturday afternoon.

Although rumors circulating during this weekend’s All-Star festivities had a deal being imminent--some versions said the trade would involve three teams and would result in the Kings sending Hasek to the Philadelphia Flyers--Leiweke said late Saturday nothing is imminent.

“Is there a deal? There is not even a conversation right now,” he said. “If they want to talk to us, sure, we would be interested.”

Leiweke also said General Manager Dave Taylor will proceed with plans to make a scouting trip today to Sweden and hadn’t canceled that trip to work on a Hasek trade.

Hasek, 35, has said he will retire after this season and return to his homeland so his children can absorb the Czech culture. However, sources in Buffalo said Hasek was leaning toward playing at least one more NHL season because a torn groin muscle has idled him most of this season and he doesn’t want to end his North American career playing at less than his best.

Hasek suffered the groin injury Oct. 29 and didn’t play again until Tuesday, when he stopped 29 shots in a 2-2 tie against the Mighty Ducks. He aggravated the groin injury in that game and did not dress for the Sabres’ next game. He also withdrew from today’s NHL All-Star game, after being voted to start for the World team.

Hasek is due to earn more than $7 million next season, a considerable sum for a team Leiweke recently said will lose $5 million this season. Nor are the Kings close enough to Stanley Cup contention for Hasek to make a difference this season or--should he decide to return--next season.

The Kings’ team goals-against average of 2.86 ranked 20th in the league at the All-Star break. Goalies Jamie Storr and Stephane Fiset have each shown flashes of brilliance this season, but both have had histories of groin problems and Storr also missed five weeks because of a concussion.

It’s not clear what the Kings would have to give up for Hasek. They do have a surplus on defense and could offer Aki Berg, a young, relatively low-salaried defenseman whose physical play might be an asset to the Sabres.