Dominik Hasek is a different breed of cat.

[For those of you not in the know, Hasek was the goaltender for the Wings during the 2002 Cup run, and is a lock for the Hockey Hall of Fame. He's also on a stamp in his home country, the Czech Republic, because he led his nation's Olympic team to the gold medal in the 1998 Winter Olympics.

Briefing over.]

We here in Wingnut Country thought he'd quit on the team. Probably not, given that he hasn't drawn a paycheck since early January--at his own request:

“He just felt that he wasn’t doing what he really had set out to do which is to play hockey and play at a high level,” [Wings General Manager Ken] Holland said. “At that time, he told me that he did not want to receive any further salary until he was ready to play.”

By Jan. 9, Hasek had received a little more than $3 million of his $6 million salary for the season.

“I think it’s an unbelievable gesture,” Holland said.