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DETROIT -- Dmitri Bykov signed a contract to play next season in Russia, but his agent said the defenseman did it just in case a new deal cannot be reached with the Detroit Red Wings.
"In his heart, he expects to play in Detroit next season and my instructions from him are to make that happen. It's now up to me and Ken Holland to work out a deal," Don Meehan, Bykov's agent, said Wednesday.
Holland, Detroit's general manager, said he has offered Bykov two different contracts.
"We made a one-year offer and a three-year offer that we think are fair," Holland said. "We want him back at the right price. If we can get a deal done before July 15, our contract would override any contract he has to play in Russia."
The 26-year-old Bykov was not a spectacular player as a rookie last season, but he was good enough to be in the lineup for 71 games, notching two goals and 10 assists. He played in the Russian League for the previous three seasons and was drafted by Detroit in the eighth round in 2001.
Holland said Wednesday there was nothing new to report on negotiations with free agents Sergei Fedorov, Steve Yzerman, Darren McCarty and Igor Larionov. He wants to bring all the players back, but at "the right price."
"In his heart, he expects to play in Detroit next season and my instructions from him are to make that happen. It's now up to me and Ken Holland to work out a deal," Don Meehan, Bykov's agent, said Wednesday.
Holland, Detroit's general manager, said he has offered Bykov two different contracts.
"We made a one-year offer and a three-year offer that we think are fair," Holland said. "We want him back at the right price. If we can get a deal done before July 15, our contract would override any contract he has to play in Russia."
The 26-year-old Bykov was not a spectacular player as a rookie last season, but he was good enough to be in the lineup for 71 games, notching two goals and 10 assists. He played in the Russian League for the previous three seasons and was drafted by Detroit in the eighth round in 2001.
Holland said Wednesday there was nothing new to report on negotiations with free agents Sergei Fedorov, Steve Yzerman, Darren McCarty and Igor Larionov. He wants to bring all the players back, but at "the right price."
