Red Wings' Tatar relieved to get new contract
Detroit Red Wings forward Tomas Tatar can finally take a deep breath.
The three-time 20-goal scorer inked a new deal on Thursday, agreeing to a four-year, $21.2-million contract with the only NHL team he's ever known.
"I really, really wanted to (stay), I love it here," Tatar told Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press. "I have so many friends, I have (a) great relationship with guys in the locker room. It would be really hard to have a one-year deal and not know what is coming in the future. I am extremely happy to stay. It is (a) big relief."
The 26-year old was a restricted free agent, and given that the Wings have finished 24th and 23rd in the league in goals in the last two seasons, respectively, locking up their leading goal-scorer from two of the past three seasons was the obvious decision.
Had Tatar and the club not agreed to an extension by the end of the day, an independent arbitrator would have announced a decision on a one-year contract, something Tatar is obviously happy didn't come to fruition.
"It's really exciting we (found a) way to get a deal done," he said. "It was a little stressful, I was not real happy it went all the way there. I think we were always trying to a find a way to sign a deal without having to wait for (an) arbitrator and I am really glad we did it."
One person who might be more ecstatic than Tatar himself? This fan who got a tattoo of Tatar last November:
There's having a favorite player, and then there's this. Talk about being obsessed dedicated.