Detroit — An offensively-challenged hockey club would prefer to avoid a hearing in which it would likely attempt to diminish the value of its leading goal scorer, and time presses them both.
The Red Wings and Tomas Tatar will meet with an arbitrator Thursday to determine his merits and devise a new contract unless they negotiate a deal.
According to a report Friday from Slovakia, Tatar said he wants to stay.
And he said he and his agent, Ritch Winter, have “an excellent relationship” with GM Ken Holland, according to a Google translation of a report by Sportklub, a European broadcaster with programming in nine countries.