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[Hockey] Hossa to sign one-year deal with f'n Detroit

Discussion in 'Other Sports' started by baller4life315, Jul 2, 2008.

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baller4life315 Member

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Hossa signs one-year deal with Stanley Cup champs

DETROIT -- Marian Hossa chose to join the Detroit Red Wings at a discount.

He hopes hoisting the Stanley Cup will make it worth the sacrifice.

Holy Hossa!

Marian Hossa finally shed his reputation as a non-playoff performer in 2008 with the Penguins when he reached his first Stanley Cup finals.

Hossa signed a one-year, $7.45 million contract with Detroit on Wednesday. He had rebuffed a chance to re-sign with the Pittsburgh Penguins, who were reportedly offering $7 million a season as part of a five-year contract.

"It was a really tough decision for me to make," Hossa said. "When I compared the two teams, I felt like I would have a little better of a chance to win the Cup in Detroit."

The high-scoring winger was one of the key players who helped Pittsburgh advance to the Stanley Cup finals, which they lost to Detroit in six games.

With Hossa headed for Detroit, the most highly coveted forwards left on the free-agent market are Jaromir Jagr and Mats Sundin. Sundin isn't close to signing with anyone, and said Wednesday he needs more time to decide where, or if, he wants to play next season.

Hossa has scored at least 29 goals the past eight seasons and has 299 in his career, dating to 1998-99 -- his first full season in the NHL -- with the Ottawa Senators. He has 25 goals and 61 assists in 75 playoff games.

"We're thrilled to be able to add Marian," Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said. "He's a premier power forward in the game, capable of scoring 30, 40, 50 goals."

Hossa scored a career-high 45 goals for the Senators during the 2002-03 season and had a career-best 100 points two seasons ago in Atlanta.

He was dealt to Pittsburgh from Atlanta at last season's trade deadline with an expiring contract. The Thrashers acquired him from the Senators before the 2005-06 season in the deal that sent Dany Heatley to Ottawa.

Detroit and Hossa hope the one-year contract is a win-win deal. The Red Wings will count on him to help them win it all again as he plays for a team that will be favored to hoist its fifth Stanley Cup since 1997 and 12th overall.

"I could get more money somewhere else, but I was looking for the best chance to win the Stanley Cup," Hossa said.

The short-term deal gives the Red Wings salary-cap space to extend contracts, improving their chances later this summer of keeping Henrik Zetterberg and Johan Franzen off the free agent market in 2009.

Holland said he offered a multi-year contract to Hossa on Tuesday, the first day of free agency, at a salary-cap friendly number that fit into the team's plans to retain Zetterberg and Franzen beyond next season.

The deal, though, didn't compare favorably to what other teams were willing to give Hossa.

"There were significant offers and opportunities out there for Marian," Holland said. "I thought it was going to be difficult to make Marian a Red Wing."

But as Holland drove to work Wednesday at Joe Louis Arena, Hossa's agent, Ritch Winter, said his client was willing to accept a one-year contract.

"Without Marian wanting to be a Red Wing, this day never happens," he said.

Holland wants this to be the first of many years Hossa plays for the Red Wings, who will try to give him a long-term deal after ensuring Zetterberg and Franzen are under contract after next season.

"The hope is we can keep everybody," Holland said. "I've got some time now to see if I can put it all together."

Hossa should fit in well with the Red Wings because he is a talented forward who also excels as a backchecker when opponents have the puck. He shed his reputation as a playoff underachiever by leading the Penguins with 12 goals, and his 26 points were a point short of matching Sidney Crosby's team-leading total.

The 29-year-old native of the Czech Republic was drafted 12th overall in 1997 by Ottawa.
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Call me bitter but I think this is a dumb move. Nevermind the loyalty/defection factor, but this guy is essentially banking on driving up his market value in Detroit somehow when he figures to be what...their 4th-5th-6th best player?

$7.45M/1-year vs. $7M/5-years

Tell me what you would rather have.

Oh well, I guess I should be grateful we stole him at the trade deadline and for his incredible carrying-the-team like performance during stretches in the playoffs. This stings but I still wish him the best of luck. Word on the street is the Pens are trying to bring back Jagr anyways.

Any hockey fans out there with a take on all this....?

#1 baller4life315, Jul 2, 2008

WhoMikeJames Member

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Damn! ...

Who?

(Wish I knew something about hockey)

#2 WhoMikeJames, Jul 2, 2008
baller4life315 Member

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Okay, i'll spell it out for people that don't watch hockey.....

The Penguins acquiring Marian Hossa was essentially exactly the same as the Lakers acquiring Gasol. Both players were notoriously awful playoff performers and both were always the best player on bad teams. Enter the one-player-away teams like the Pens/Lakers that snagged up both players and all of sudden became serious.

Now, Hossa is bolting to Detroit (team that beat the Pens in the Finals) for something like 450k being the difference. 1 year/$7.45 vs. 5 years/$7M -- take your pick.

Hossa bolting to Detroit would be like Gasol leaving via free agency (lets pretend) and signing with the Celtics. How would the NBA community react to this?

#3 baller4life315, Jul 2, 2008
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As much as I was cheering for the Pens, Detroit is a much better team. I don't blame him...

...but it would be awesome if Jagr rejoined Pittsburgh!

#4 3814, Jul 2, 2008
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baller4life315 said:

Okay, i'll spell it out for people that don't watch hockey.....

The Penguins acquiring Marian Hossa was essentially exactly the same as the Lakers acquiring Gasol. Both players were notoriously awful playoff performers and both were always the best player on bad teams. Enter the one-player-away teams like the Pens/Lakers that snagged up both players and all of sudden became serious.

Now, Hossa is bolting to Detroit (team that beat the Pens in the Finals) for something like 450k being the difference. 1 year/$7.45 vs. 5 years/$7M -- take your pick.

Hossa bolting to Detroit would be like Gasol leaving via free agency (lets pretend) and signing with the Celtics. How would the NBA community react to this?
Click to expand...

It's a business move, the salary cap has gone up every year, the top end players are getting bigger contracts (Sundin has 10 Mil / season on the table)....he knows he'll have a big season with Detroit, and a Cup with his name on it ....this wil only improve his value, I think he wants 10 Mil rather the 7 Mil you guys were offering him....it's a smart move as long as he does not get injured, I would have done the same thing.... He knows this is his last BIG contract, making the most of it.

#5 ChrisBosh, Jul 2, 2008
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Forgot to add...

Your team has Sidney and Malkin, trust me you won't need Hossa to win the Cup.....

Congrats on getting Malkn signed to an extension.....was good news for you guys since he initially said he wanted HUGE money, he's better than Sid IMHO, love watching him play.

#6 ChrisBosh, Jul 2, 2008
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Zetterburg-Datsyuk-Hossa
Lidstrom-Rafalski

LOLZ...

the nhl is f****d

#7 Northside Storm, Jul 2, 2008

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ChrisBosh said:

Forgot to add...

Your team has Sidney and Malkin, trust me you won't need Hossa to win the Cup.....

Congrats on getting Malkn signed to an extension.....was good news for you guys since he initially said he wanted HUGE money, he's better than Sid IMHO, love watching him play.
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You really think so? I agree that Malkin is incredibly gifted, maybe more than Crosby...but I simply can't stand the way he glides to the bench instead of skating to it. In my opinion, he doesn't give it 100%. But then again, I've only seen him play about 20 games on TV.

#8 3814, Jul 3, 2008
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3814 said:

.but I simply can't stand the way he glides to the bench instead of skating to it.
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I think Clyde does the same, actually. Except he glides to everything.

So is this Crosby kid the Lerbon of hockey? I remember him being all over ESPN's grill that one lockout year.

#9 Yaozer, Jul 3, 2008
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I hate Detroit... they crushed the hopes and dreams of my Dallas Stars this year.

#10 brooksstephens, Jul 3, 2008
baller4life315 Member

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ChrisBosh said:

It's a business move, the salary cap has gone up every year, the top end players are getting bigger contracts (Sundin has 10 Mil / season on the table)....he knows he'll have a big season with Detroit, and a Cup with his name on it ....this wil only improve his value, I think he wants 10 Mil rather the 7 Mil you guys were offering him....it's a smart move as long as he does not get injured, I would have done the same thing.... He knows this is his last BIG contract, making the most of it.
Click to expand...

I agree with most of what you're saying I just think Hossa might be a bit naive to believe he can just step in and be one of the best players on Detroit. He'll be what...the 4th/5th/6th best player on that team, depending on lines?

Sure, there's always the possibility he plays for a "cheap" $7.45M for a year, plays big then ultimately cashes out. I don't blame him in that sense since he's definitely in his prime right now. I just think he would have been better off playing third fittle to Crosby/Malkin rather than just being another body in Detroit.

...and I agree the Pens don't need Hossa to win the Cup but at the same time he was awesome in the postseason and we definitely don't get there without him. I think he definitely answered all the critics about whether or not he can be a big time player when the game counts, he just needs to win big now.

Losing Hossa stinks but convincing Jagr to make a comeback tour would definitely make you quickly forget about losing Hossa. Jagr is the kind of guy you can throw out there on the Crosby line and not miss a beat.

#11 baller4life315, Jul 3, 2008
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"You know what a Hossa is? It's a pig that don't fly straight."

#12 Baqui99, Jul 3, 2008
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Hossa is a douche I hope Detroit doesn't repeat next year more than likely they won't though, it's really tough to go back to back in hockey.. And Crosby>Malkin imo crosby was more consistent throughout the playoffs in particular the finals even though he wasn't scoring a lot of goals.

#13 Gerrard, Jul 3, 2008

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A Hockey player for 7.4 million for one year on playing at a discount?

Surely Hockey players don't earn that much!

#14 Christopher, Jul 3, 2008
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Christopher said:

A Hockey player for 7.4 million for one year on playing at a discount?

Surely Hockey players don't earn that much!
Click to expand...

Yeah, Crosby & Malkin are two of the best players in the sport yet they earn way less annually than NBA scrubs like Ben Wallace or K-Mart. That along with Hossa's "discount" contract really puts things into perspective.

#15 baller4life315, Jul 3, 2008
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I would expect them to earn far less. They play in front of fewer fans, their TV deals and sponsorships would be lower....

I would have guessed the top earners would have got say 5 million at a stretch.

#16 Christopher, Jul 3, 2008
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Christopher said:

I would expect them to earn far less. They play in front of fewer fans, their TV deals and sponsorships would be lower....

I would have guessed the top earners would have got say 5 million at a stretch.
Click to expand...

But I believe hockey tickets cost a lot more than basketball ones. I know whenever I go to a Canucks game the upper deck seats cost around $60-70 at face value (which is impossible to get).

#17 3814, Jul 3, 2008
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$60-70 for upper deck seats?

I just buy a student rush ticket for $20 for Pens games. You have to wait in line forever but it's definitely worth it despite how old, outdated & ugly Mellon Arena is.

#18 baller4life315, Jul 3, 2008

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3814 said:

But I believe hockey tickets cost a lot more than basketball ones. I know whenever I go to a Canucks game the upper deck seats cost around $60-70 at face value (which is impossible to get).
Click to expand...

Bloody hell!

Im still surprised though, just going by what must be their poor TV deal.

Then again I guess baseball has been living beyond its means for so longm, why cant other sports!

#19 Christopher, Jul 3, 2008
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3814 said:

You really think so? I agree that Malkin is incredibly gifted, maybe more than Crosby...but I simply can't stand the way he glides to the bench instead of skating to it. In my opinion, he doesn't give it 100%. But then again, I've only seen him play about 20 games on TV.
Click to expand...

Crosby is great though he is missing the goal scoring abilities those elite snipers have, he's more of a setup guy. Also I think he makes players around him much better than Malkin does and plays a better all round game.

The thing I love about Malkin is that he can carry a team on his back, when Crosby went out last year he is the one who put the team on his shoulder and made things happen. Don't think I've seen that since Mario and Gretz. It was only for a stretch of 20 - 30 games, but damn havn't seen anyone play like that in a while.

baller4life315 said:

I agree with most of what you're saying I just think Hossa might be a bit naive to believe he can just step in and be one of the best players on Detroit. He'll be what...the 4th/5th/6th best player on that team, depending on lines?

Sure, there's always the possibility he plays for a "cheap" $7.45M for a year, plays big then ultimately cashes out. I don't blame him in that sense since he's definitely in his prime right now. I just think he would have been better off playing third fittle to Crosby/Malkin rather than just being another body in Detroit.

...and I agree the Pens don't need Hossa to win the Cup but at the same time he was awesome in the postseason and we definitely don't get there without him. I think he definitely answered all the critics about whether or not he can be a big time player when the game counts, he just needs to win big now.

Losing Hossa stinks but convincing Jagr to make a comeback tour would definitely make you quickly forget about losing Hossa. Jagr is the kind of guy you can throw out there on the Crosby line and not miss a beat.
Click to expand...

Actually I disagree with you on Hossa being naive, the Wings don't have an elite sniper on that team (Zetterberg had around 40 but he's not a pure sniper), they(the team) are actually better playmakers than scorers, he'll light it up big time. He's a perfect fit, he doesn't play physical either, and neither does anyone else(the team), rather they concentrate on puck conntrol. I couldn't think of a better situation for him to make a career year.

#20 ChrisBosh, Jul 3, 2008

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