Marian Hossa will test free agent market

[Dabura 12,232]

If it's between those teams, and if he does truly want to play for a legitimate contender so badly that he's willing to take a reasonable paycut, I've gotta think the Wings are the sexiest candidate there.

I've also gotta think, though, that the Habs, Sharks and Stars are interested as well.

[marcaractac 3,963]

Everyone seems to think we only have money to spend for this year only. IF we did get Hossa (not saying we will), the 09/10 season would be the only difficult year salary-wise. After that, Lidstroms big contract is off the books, and I'm willing to bet that if he doesn't retire then (which I think he will), he will take a cut in pay just because he is getting older. If we can squeeze a player of his caliber in our lineup, and just have 1 year to worry about sqeezing him in, then I say go for it. If worse comes to worse, we can trade him after one year and get great pics and/or prospects for him, assuming we can't really fit him in 09/10, although I think Holland can. Holland is very creative with salaries, and I think if Hossa contatcs Holland about a deal, than Holland will damn well listen.

Is we lose Stuart, Holland won't go after a new DMan, unless something really good comes up, ala Brian Rafalski. Other than Stuart and resigning Flip, we have nothing big to worry about, except for depth guys really. Sundin is not gonna be signed on July 1st, you can all quote me on that one. So if a Hossa or Rolston type player falls through, they can always go for him. But Holland has money to spend this year. If he can find something that he can squeeze under next years cap, I'd guessing he goes for it. starting 2010/2011, Lidstroms salary will either be gone, or start to shrink. We have space for a long term deal. The Lidstrom thing is just REALLY easy for all of us to overlook.

On top of all this, Hank's new contract could be set up so he makes less money on the first year and slightly more on the rest. That to could also free up space for the 09/10 season. There are many creative ways that it could work out, without having to lose anybody. But we will just have to wait and see on July 1st!!

Edited June 27, 2008 by marcaractac

[ZigZagYourTorso 8]

I would absolutely LOVE to have Hossa on this team. But a long term deal really does not seem possible. Hank is going to get at least 7, I'm thinking Franzen will end up getting somewhere around 4 if he has a consistent year coming up, and Flip should get somewhere between 2 and 3. And to somehow squeeze Hossa in would take some insane mathematician skills from Holland. I do not think it is impossible but I really do not think it is likely. BUT our lines would look damn good with him here =-) It's just a year or 2 down the road it would probably get pretty scary with our cap room and resigning players. Unless the Cap keeps going up like it has been.

[norrisnick 1]

Zetterberg deal will take time

Don't expect Henrik Zetterberg to sign a long-term extension on July 1 like San Jose's Joe Thornton did last year. Zetterberg has one year remaining on a contract that averages $2.65 million a season, but Holland doesn't anticipate a quick signing. He said he has had only preliminary talks with Zetterberg's agent and that no figures have been exchanged yet. His new deal is expected to be in the $7 million-a-year range.

"Over the course of the summer and as we get into camp I'd like to ramp things up," Holland said. "Free agency is getting more difficult. They got more and more options. It's going to take a long time."

Take your time, Kenny. A year and 4 days and you won't have to worry about that pesky tagging rule...

[egroen 384]

I was hoping the Lidstrom money goes to an elite defenceman or goalie, not another forward.

[Hank 0]

I thought some people here might be interested in this.

On XM last night someone mentioned how Hossa really wants to go to a team that is capable of winning a Cup.

But the analysts pointed out this should be taken with a grain of salt.

A few years back when he was in Ottawa he, Redden and Chara were asked to take a little less to keep them all together so they could win a Cup. Redden and Chara took less but Hossa did not.

By Hossa deciding to see what transpires after July 1st, I think it's a fair assumption to make this guys top priority is money.

He has a chance to play on a team that's in a good hockey market, was 2 games away from a Cup and where he'll line up with either Crosby or Malkin every single night and yet he turned down a reported $7M per year.

He could probably get $8M or more on the open market but that'll probably come from teams that aren't as close as Pittsburgh.

Look at the conference finalists - Detroit, Dallas, Pittsburgh and Philly. Only Detroit and Pittsburgh have the room to sign him and I don't see Detroit going after him.

Anaheim is a good team but won't have the funds. Montreal just got Tanguay and his huge salary so I don't see that fitting. San Jose might look at him but they'll probably spend that cash on a puck-moving dman like Redden.

I could go on and on, but basically the team's that can afford him (like Columbus, Atlanta, Phoenix, LA) aren't nearly as close to a Cup as Pittsburgh is.

I may be way off base, but I really do think Hossa is nothing more than a money-player hellbent on getting as much as he possibly can, regardless of he has a shot to win anything of significance.

[egroen 384]

Hank,

You very well could be right... maybe he is hoping for a big offer from a San Jose, Detroit, Montreal and using Pittsburgh as his backup. Maybe he has gotten wind that one is coming. But $7 million to play with Crosby is a pretty sweet deal. Can you imagine what Crosby would do for his numbers?

When he says "Contender" I am beginning to think he means, "They'll be a contender once I'm on the team."

I would not be suprised if he finally accepts a $9 million a year deal from any or more of the teams you mentioned, in similar position.

[Hank 0]

Hank,

You very well could be right... maybe he is hoping for a big offer from a San Jose, Detroit, Montreal and using Pittsburgh as his backup. Maybe he has gotten wind that one is coming. But $7 million to play with Crosby is a pretty sweet deal. Can you imagine what Crosby would do for his numbers?

When he says "Contender" I am beginning to think he means, "They'll be a contender once I'm on the team."

I would not be suprised if he finally accepts a $9 million a year deal from any or more of the teams you mentioned, in similar position.

I'm a Wings fan but that is something I'd love to watch next season. It has the same potential as Gretzky-Kurri.

I don't think it would be a stretch to say that the two of them could easily surpass their previous best offensive totals.

Hossa could score 50g along with 100+ points and Crosby might be able to hit 100 assists inside a 150 point season. Who knows?

I'm still hoping that Hossa could re-sign with Pittsburgh but it looks like that possibility is slowly fading away.

What'll probably end up happening is he'll rejoin Jacques Martin in Florida where he'll get 80 points playing with Stephen Weiss and Rusty Olesz - and not make the playoffs.

[norrisnick 1]

I thought some people here might be interested in this.

On XM last night someone mentioned how Hossa really wants to go to a team that is capable of winning a Cup.

But the analysts pointed out this should be taken with a grain of salt.

A few years back when he was in Ottawa he, Redden and Chara were asked to take a little less to keep them all together so they could win a Cup. Redden and Chara took less but Hossa did not.

By Hossa deciding to see what transpires after July 1st, I think it's a fair assumption to make this guys top priority is money.

He has a chance to play on a team that's in a good hockey market, was 2 games away from a Cup and where he'll line up with either Crosby or Malkin every single night and yet he turned down a reported $7M per year.

He could probably get $8M or more on the open market but that'll probably come from teams that aren't as close as Pittsburgh.

Look at the conference finalists - Detroit, Dallas, Pittsburgh and Philly. Only Detroit and Pittsburgh have the room to sign him and I don't see Detroit going after him.

Anaheim is a good team but won't have the funds. Montreal just got Tanguay and his huge salary so I don't see that fitting. San Jose might look at him but they'll probably spend that cash on a puck-moving dman like Redden.

I could go on and on, but basically the team's that can afford him (like Columbus, Atlanta, Phoenix, LA) aren't nearly as close to a Cup as Pittsburgh is.

I may be way off base, but I really do think Hossa is nothing more than a money-player hellbent on getting as much as he possibly can, regardless of he has a shot to win anything of significance.

The Chara/Redden thing was the year after Hossa was traded away. Murray had those two talked into take $6M/yr each if they'd both stay. Chara bolted for $7.5M/yr from Boston.

Hossa was traded the year before after he signed a 3 year $6M/yr (average) contract. He got blindsided by the trade. Murray, at the time, was using Alfredsson's $4.5M/yr cap hit as an internal cap for his forwards. Though obviously that went out the window when Spezza and Heatley came around.

Hossa signed a very fair deal and got screwed.

[Hank 0]

That is a great point. I was actually wondering if Babcock would toy around with putting Franzen on line 1 and putting Holmstrom down at all during this upcoming season. The reality is that Holmstrom will not keep this up too many more years.

What makes Holmstrom so valuable on the top line with Dats and Zetts is that both D and Z can play like centres. Homer's only job is to stand in front so Dats takes the left and Zetts the right and it gives them the freedom and room to do their thing out there.

If you move Homer from the top line it might disrupt the chemistry of D and Z.

[LeftWinger 5,153]

What makes Holmstrom so valuable on the top line with Dats and Zetts is that both D and Z can play like centres. Homer's only job is to stand in front so Dats takes the left and Zetts the right and it gives them the freedom and room to do their thing out there.

If you move Homer from the top line it might disrupt the chemistry of D and Z.

...when Homer went down with his injury, never stopped them, it only gave someone else a chance to get #1 minutes and they shined!

...quick question:

...Considering you can offer the moon for one season, who do YOU sign for one season? 1. Sundin or 2. Hossa

[norrisnick 1]

...when Homer went down with his injury, never stopped them, it only gave someone else a chance to get #1 minutes and they shined!

...quick question:

...Considering you can offer the moon for one season, who do YOU sign for one season? 1. Sundin or 2. Hossa

Hossa is the better player, but it is impossible to sign him for one season.

[Rice 42]

Kevin Dupont:

What's up with Hossa? - At this point, it looks as if Slovakian right wing Marian Hossa will sleepwalk into offers of $8 million a year or more, and according to a variety of sources, he is leaning toward signing with a club that can be considered both a short- and long-term contender. In other words, welcome to Detroit. But don't discount the Rangers or Canadiens trying to convince him they're in the Cup hunt for keeps, too. Boston's chances: slimmer than the teenage Gretzky.

[omnipotent_hudler 0]

stop torturing me for christs sake he is NOT COMING HERE GET OUT OF MY HEAD HOSSA ARRRRGHHHHHHHH

*dreams of hossa in a wings uniform*

damnit

[VM1138 1,921]

So according to Kevin DuPont we're getting Hossa, Sundin, and Bertuzzi? I'm thinking he has no idea what he's talking about.

[Guest EZBAKETHAGANGSTA]

So according to Kevin DuPont we're getting Hossa, Sundin, and Bertuzzi? I'm thinking he has no idea what he's talking about.

MAKE IT HAPPEN KENNY

[marcaractac 3,963]

So according to Kevin DuPont we're getting Hossa, Sundin, and Bertuzzi? I'm thinking he has no idea what he's talking about.

precap era that would totally be possible haha

[Dabura 12,232]

But don't discount the Rangers or Canadiens trying to convince him they're in the Cup hunt for keeps, too.

lololo

I'd love to see that sales pitch!

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

So according to Kevin DuPont we're getting Hossa, Sundin, and Bertuzzi? I'm thinking he has no idea what he's talking about.

That line could have the potential to be a great line. Too bad it'd never ever happen.

[rage 24]

But don't discount the Rangers or Canadiens trying to convince him they're in the Cup hunt for keeps, too.

lololo

I'd love to see that sales pitch!

LOL..Yeah....

Really though if they could get Hossa and Sundin, and they already have a goalie that just won the last GOLD.......hhhhmmmmm.....Vets like Shanny and Jajr could sign real cheap, they could have something going there.

Still gotta beat Philly though.