DavyMac

I blame Babcock for his inability to change things up until its too late. Who do you blame?

Its simple really, I compared Hossa and Samuelsson in terms of style. I said that he has no chemistry with Datsyuk or Zetterberg. I provided the example of Franzen having chemistry with both players and being paid much less and I also brought up the point that if you keep Hossa you're going to lose role players like Flip, Hudler and Samuelsson. Its pretty simple to follow. Hossa scored 6 more goals, ten more points than Franzen and was paid around five million dollars more. We have our big sniper and his name is Johan Franzen. Hossa is a one and done deal.

There isn't a player out there who knows the system better and has spent as much time on this team as Samuelsson who will also play for a million a season. Abdelkader will be in Grand Rapids next season and Leino will be on this team regardless of Samuelsson. Everytime needs the Sameulsson's, Hudler's and Lilja's. You gain nothing but a roster spot by letting players like that walk. Letting Hossa walk and you can afford to keep Conklin or sign another role player without losing one player from this team except Hossa.

Samuelsson $1.2 million Hossa $7.45 million Say it with me slowly... "Role Player". Learn that simple concept and get back to me. If it were up to some of you armchair quarterbacks Ovechkin would be on our fourth line.

Its going to happen... just wait for it.

50 games = 90% of the season? Holmstrom-Datsyuk-Franzen Was our best line all season. Datsyuk had the best season of his career? He tied last season and his defensive game suffered slightly having Hossa on his line. He scored 97 points in one less game(because of suspension). Don't act like he blew out his previous season totals. Datsyuk could have been on a line with Franzen all season and scored 97 points. Did I miss the part were Hossa has ever been nominated for a Hart?

And Datsyuk looked at his best on a line without Hossa... why are struggling with that fact? If you actually watched the games, instead of studying score sheets you would realize this. He played his best hockey with Franzen and Holmstrom. The only reason Datsyuk spent so much time with Hossa this season was because Hossa and Zetterberg together are absolutely brutal. And one would argue that if Datsyuk was paired with Zetterberg or Franzen for the final three games of the season he could have hit 100 points. You know, instead of struggling because of Marian Hossa being a ghost.

You started a Datsyuk vs Hossa debate... Datsyuk scored 97 points two seasons in a row playing under 20 minutes a game. Hossa scoring 79 or even 82 points looks less than impressive compared to that. Thats not even including the Selke Datsyuk has won and will probably win this season. Datsyuk vs Hossa isn't even comparable.

Datsyuk plays 3 minutes less per game than Crosby, Malkin or Ovechkin... he still nearly scored 100 points. Hossa is playing with two of the best passers in the league (Datsyuk and Zetterberg) and hes struggled offensively. Hes also tied with being the highest paid player on this team. There really isn't an excuse for it.

How many Selke trophies does Hossa have? 0 How many will he ever be nominated for? 0 How many Stanley Cups does Hossa have? 0 Of course if we're going about things purely on points, not taking in account defense or the fact that Hossa's 100 point season came while playing in the South East division, Datsyuk has outscored Hossa since the lockout.

Samuelsson will be here next season, hes too cheap to let go, unlike Hossa.... You guys do realize this isn't NHL2009 correct? Aware of the salary cap? Aware of the salary increases already given to Zetterberg and Franzen and the increase probably coming for Hudler? This isn't 2002, every line doesn't need to have an allstar forward on it. Oh wait, im the moron... I guess I am on the only person here who recalls this team winning a cup without Hossa... The fact is, you need guys like Samuelsson and Hudler to win. Its called team depth.

Sammy is one of our leading hitters... and hes a 20 goal scorer making a million dollars a season. Hossa had 40 goals making $7.5 million. Franzen had 34 goals making LESS than Samuelsson this season. Franzen was obviously underpaid but even taking his new raise into account hes still making around $4 million less per year than Hossa this season. Plus like I said above, he can actually play with both of our top two centers, unlike Hossa who needs weak linemates to play at the top of his game.

Datsyuk isn't "moving" like he usually does because hes not getting any good breakout passes from his linemates. Holmstrom is only a first line player if hes on a line with Datsyuk and another star forward. Hossa is busy setting up in the slot waiting for a pass to come to him through three guys. Datsyuk is effectively killing penalties 5 on 5 because hes constantly being double teamed because of Hossa floating around in the offensive zone. Babcock is nitorious for not changing lines up until the last possbile moment. If we're trailing in this game for the majority of the game he wont put D-Z-H together until the last minute. Why not double shift our best line every once in a while? The fact is, Hossa makes way too much to be playing on the third line. But hes a part of this team, like it or not. The only problem I have is certain people acting as if Datsyuk is choking or not showing up when its certainly not the case. Put a guy like Leino or Helm on his line in place of Hossa and the line will look better by default.

He makes six million more per season? They play a very similar style.... one is just more physically gifted. Hossa and Samuelsson don't use their linemates well if at all. They stand around waiting for the puck to come to them while their linemates do all of the heavy lifting. Hossa could score 30 goals on a line with Draper and Maltby, hes that kind of player. On the other hand we already have a great goalscorer (Franzen) who makes dramatically less than Hossa and plays well with Zetterberg AND Datsyuk because he knows how to use his linemates and gasp.... pass the puck.

Yes, thats exactly what I said. Deflect deflect deflect. He may be the nicest guy in the world, probably rescues baby kittens in his off time but that doesn't make up for the fact that he has ZERO chemistry with Datsyuk and Zetterberg. Each player has struggled with Hossa on their line.

- Sammy gets puck, he shoots - Hossa gets puck, he shoots Both are decent defensively and obviously Hossa is faster but thats it. They also both throw their weight around. Hossa is MASSIVELY overrated at this point.

And I watched every single game this season.. so I do. Datsyuk scored 25 more points than the second highest player on this team(Zetterberg). He played his best hockey on a line with Franzen and Holmstrom. Zetterberg struggled all season but moreso when playing WITH Hossa and the second Datsyuk and Hossa were reunited Zetterberg started producing again. Hossa is bringing Datsyuk's game down. Hossa is a glorified version of Samuelsson with a better shot.

Marian Hossa does it to the best of them...

Hossa makes $7.5 million this season.... $4 million more than our second leading goal scorer $4 million more than our second leading point getter. $600,000 more than our leading point getter, who outscored him by 26 points. If Hossa were making $5 million a season you may have a case but hes making more than Zetterberg and Datsyuk.

Ive been on this messageboard since its inception... Ive played hockey my entire life... Ive followed this team since 1994 Oh wait.

If you had to guess, you would be wrong, I have already displayed more knowledge about this team in a single topic than you have. Hossa led this team in scoring and Franzen was second, scoring 6 less goals for about five million less. And coming in here and saying "I don't like Hossa" is pointless and trollish, im backing up my claim with logical points that you can't comprehend apparently. I guess if all you look at is the statsheet your argument applies. Datsyuk and Hossa play completely different styles as a matter of fact during most games they look terrible together. They rarely sustain any pressure in the offensive zone, they get most of their chances on the fast break. The only reason Datsyuk and Hossa are paired is because they're slightly better together than Hossa and Zetterberg. It doesn't work, it was a nice signing and a great addition to an already stacked lineup but Hossa doesn't fit with either of our top two centers. The only way to make it work would be playing him on the third line with a guy like Flip and Hudler, which would never happen. Players and Management saying that he "Fits the team" is simple. The guy turned down a lot of money to play here, hes a friendly guy in the locker room and he has produced. That doesn't mean that hes worth losing Flip and Hudler over. Most rational fans value team depth over any single player. And its not a wild assumption to say that Zetterberg, paired with Datsyuk, is capable of 90 points. He did it last season, he hit 87 points WITHOUT Datsyuk in 2006. Datsyuk and Zetterberg were both negatively effected by Hossa on their lines this season, although Datsyuk still kept on scoring(Which is why he was nominated for a Hart), Zetterberg on the other hand was brutal with Hossa. Putting way too much value into one player.

And TSN said differently but if thats the case IF, than it doesn't change a thing. That is still $6.5 million added to the cap through various salary increases. You still need to move one or two players and pay for the players that replace them. Hossa isn't a possibility, the wet dream needs to end.

Endless insults.. great debater. The entire offseason after we signed Hossa all we ever heard about was how he was one of the best two way players in the game, in the mold of Datsyuk and Zetterberg. Its clearly not the case. Hes a great backchecker but in his own zone hes lost. In the offensive zone he has two options: 1. Shoot the puck 2. Hold onto the puck and lose it. I find it laughable that you tack on the whole chemistry isssue at the end of your post like it doesn't matter. Hossa is the second highest paid player on this team. If he truly ever clicked with Datsyuk he would have scored 50+ goals. The Wings best line this season, outside of the one game D-Z-H was together was the Cleary-Datsyuk-Franzen line. Datsyuk and Franzen have a natural chemistry. Franzen also has the same chemistry with Zetterberg. Hossa played his best hockey on a line with Flip and Hudler because he could dictate the play. If Hossa wasn't signed this year, Datsyuk and Zetterberg would have played together all season, Zetterberg would have hit 90 points easily and Datsyuk would be leading the team in playoff scoring. Instead, Babcock has chosen to put Hossa, Datsyuk and Holmstrom together and load up his second line to provide offense. Its a complete waste of Datsyuk's talent to be on the same line with Hossa. As a matter of fact when they're paired together Datsyuk reverts to his pre-lockout style of holding the puck on the perimeter looking for an open Brett Hull and passing up taking a shot instead. Datsyuk needs a winger who doesn't just look to score on every play. That is why Zetterberg and Datsyuk compliment each other perfectly.

Fedorov will get his number retired by the Wings and I hope he comes back for one season in the not so distant future. I don't think hes done though, if the Caps make it to the finals(Big if) I doubt he retires. Hes finally found his place in Washington.. Ironically in the shadow of Ovechkin but it works.

Cap decrease, $2 million Hudler raise, $1.5-$2 million at the least. Zetterberg raise, $4 million Franzen raise, $1.5 million --------------------------- $7.5-$9 million increase on team cap # Its fiscally impossible to sign Hossa unless you move one or two of the following: Hudler(RFA) Kronwall Lilja Filippula and one of Stuart (NTC) Cleary(NTC) Rafalski(NTC) Or you can just let Hossa walk, we'll have a little wiggle room under the cap and all of the salary increases wont be an issue because Hossa's $7.5 million cap hit comes off the books. In reality, Hossa would have to sign for about $4 million per season for it not to involve losing two roster players.