Q. How many games do the Red Wings want to play Dominik Hasek?  Obviously, they want to have him healthy going into the playoffs.
— Wes from Wheeling, W. Va.
A. What they must balance in Detroit, Wes, is what they want and what they can reasonably expect.

Obviously, they would want the Dominator to keep on keeping on, but his recent history shows that is not realistic. He will be 41 years old in January, and as you know, he has a lengthy history of injuries.  His groin pull at the Olympics in Feb. 2006 ended his ‘05-‘06 season for Ottawa.  He missed the remaining 25 games of the regular season, as well as the playoff rounds against Tampa Bay and Buffalo.  Not what the Senators wanted or expected.

At the moment, Hasek is physically sound and back to his red-hot ways. He stood 11-4-3 through his first 18 decisions, and his 1.87 goals-against mark was a league-best 1.87.  Not bad for an old man with a laundry list of injuries.

Now, where do the Winged Wheels go from here with their No. 1 man?  I suspect when Chris Osgood is back from his hand injury (a problem since Nov. 14), you likely will see the Wings try to even out the workload between the two. Why?  For the very reason you suggest — they need Hasek hot and healthy for what can be a two-month playoff run, often with games every other night.

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In ‘02, his Cup-winning year with the Wings, Hasek played 65 games in the regular season, and then 23 more in the playoffs. He was already 37 at the time, and that was a phenomenal workload for a goalie his age. At age 41, he does not want to be headed into Round 1 with 60-65 games on his resume.

Provided he stays injury-free, he likely will play 50-55 games over the regular season and use that as the perfect springboard to the postseason.  He was on course to play 60 or more with Ottawa last season, and that pace was what led, in part, to his downfall at the start of the Games in Torino.

Q. What has prevented Calgary’s Jeff Friesen from becoming a better player in his NHL career?
—Sarah from Sunnvale, Calif.
A. Well, Sarah, speed hasn’t been the thing that's held back his production. Friesen, 30, remains one of the game’s fastest skaters, his blinding speed is one of the reasons the Sharks selected him 11th overall in the ‘94 draft.

In the spring of ‘03, when Friesen was a key figure in the Devils' third Cup, Friesen looked like he finally found his groove. He scored 10 times in 24 playoff games, and finished with 14 points and an impressive plus-10.  But his production fell back again the following season, leading to stops in Washington, then Anaheim and now Calgary, where he stood a very disappointing 0-1--1 through 20 games.  In other words, he is now doing next to nothing, and at a cost to the Flames of $1.6 million this season. It’s not likely GM Darryl Sutter will keep him long on the books.

Friesen, despite that world-class speed, is a bit lazy, and that low-level work ethic leads to maddening slumps (see: Calgary).  His play also lacks an edge (read: grit), which isn’t all that important in today’s game.  Oh, it’s great to have it, but it’s not absolutely necessary. Somewhat ironic, isn’t it, that when the game trended away from size and force, Friesen’s production actually dropped?

Q. This likely the final season for Trevor Linden?
— Ron Bateman from Chicago.
A. If Linden is back for more in 2007-‘08, Ron, I would be truly amazed.  He signed on for this year at $600,000, only a slight premium over the league minimum ($450,000), fully aware that his role would be further reduced at his age (37 next April).

However, even with those diminished expectations, Linden managed only 5 points in his first 27 games, even while averaging about 13 minutes of ice time in recent games.  In part, his limited production is a reflection of an entire Vancouver lineup that is challenged to put the puck in the net.  But even then, more is expected from the guy who was once the face of the franchise.

Linden, obviously, is about more than numbers.  At such a low payroll figure, the Canucks undoubtedly could have him back, perhaps even at a slight pay cut. But with his skills in decline, and his points in lockstep, it looks like it’s time for Linden to begin the next phase of his career. Just as Ron Francis took a job in Carolina’s front office, and Steve Yzerman did the same in Detroit, look for Linden to do the same in Vancouver.  Regrettably, he won’t take a Cup into retirement.