The Dominator, or Dommy as some in the media have referred to him, earns a lot more money than the vast majority of us yet he has repeatedly demonstrated that he isn't all about the money and that's a breath of fresh air from the sports world. There was the year when he refused to cash millions in dollars worth of paychecks because he was hurt. He didn't feel that he earned the money so refused to take it. Granted he was in a financial position where he had the ability to make that decision but I wonder how many who are able to make that kind of decision refuse to accept pay they're entitled to because they believe that their employer hasn't received good value in return?

And his decision to retire now is incredibly classy and smart. Until the first round of this year's playoffs he was one of the best goalies in the world. Many, including the coaches of the Detroit Red Wings, regarded him as the number one goalie on the number one team in hockey. He simply dominated opponent after opponent in the regular season. Then, for whatever reason, he lost his edge in the playoffs and Detroit almost became the Dead Wings. So Hasek sat on the edge of the bench for the rest of the playoffs and watched his former backup, Chris Osgood, provide mostly solid and at times stellar goaltending.

So good was Osgood (sorry, couldn't resist) that the Wings won the Stanley Cup. And there was Hasek on the end of the bench pulling slivers out of his butt. But he wasn't pouting. He was the consummate team man. He supported the decision to play Osgood as he knew it was right for the organization. Again, how many of us would have the class and foresight that Hasek did to understand that the work that we desperately want to do is better left in the hands of someone junior to us?

The hockey world will miss The Dominator but the way he played the game on and off the ice will be remembered. He created a wonderful legacy. But now take a good, long look in the mirror. What is your legacy within your organization and industry?