Hossa

[pjgj13 30]

Why are they trashing him? Usually the media trashes an athlete that takes more money over a chance at a ring. He takes a chance for a ring and all of a sudden he "didn't do the right thing".

I sense A LOT of jealousy over the fact we got him and a month after winning it all, the Wings are heavy favorites to repeat. I didn't think we had a shot at him seeing as Lids was going to be the highest paid.

Hopefully he signs long term and gets a few more cups for the Wings.

[Swede40 0]

I don;t think he'd get criticized as much had he signed a 5-6 year contract with us. It'd the fact he turned down larger contracts to have the best shot at winning a ring.

In all honesty I wouldn't be surprised if he took even lesser money next off season to stay in Detroit.

[Yemack 1]

because Hossa didn't go to their team and they know Wings are going to beat their team.

I just did a quick scan in HF board and those guys were Oilers, Anaheim, Montreal, Stars fans.. plus some Wings haters. I went to Maple Leafs board and most of them seem to praise Hossa's character (other than 'write this season off already' response)

Haters can all cry in the corner while we do another lap around the ice next spring.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

Some media is trashing him b/c he said he was pretty open to signing a long-term deal in Pittsburgh, but then changed his mind.

[Seraph 240]

Some media is trashing him b/c he said he was pretty open to signing a long-term deal in Pittsburgh, but then changed his mind.

And the fact that he thinks Detroit has a better chance than the Stanley Cup Finalists, Penguins. Though, clearly we all know what's what and that he made the right decision going with the champs.

[b.shanafan14 733]

The difference between the Red Wings and the Penguins is this: he saw his Penguins team lose to the Red Wings, even with Hossa. Since the free agent period, the Penguins have lost a young power forward in Malone and their character guy in Roberts, and a back up goaltender that helped them out a great deal with Fluery went down. On the other hand, that same Red Wings team that handily defeated his Penguins have retained every piece of their championship team that has made a habit of winning and plays to his strengths.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

Some media is trashing him b/c he said he was pretty open to signing a long-term deal in Pittsburgh, but then changed his mind.

Please. Thats a stupid reason if I ever heard one. If he changed his mind in the middle of free agency while Pittsburgh is banking on not having some 7 million in cap space because of re-signing Hossa, I can understand. But Hossa had the respect to tell them he'd test the market well before July 1st.

Its nothing but sour grapes around the league. Not only is our team better, but our GM is too.

And can I just point something out here that NO ONE seems to bring up in these discussions? He was with the Penguins for four months Whoop-dee-do. He doesnt owe them anything.

Edited July 6, 2008 by YoungGuns1340

[Guest nutz2u]

The difference between the Red Wings and the Penguins is this: he saw his Penguins team lose to the Red Wings, even with Hossa. Since the free agent period, the Penguins have lost a young power forward in Malone and their character guy in Roberts, and a back up goaltender that helped them out a great deal with Fluery went down. On the other hand, that same Red Wings team that handily defeated his Penguins have retained every piece of their championship team that has made a habit of winning and plays to his strengths.

He had a close-up view of the Wings beating the Penguins with Hossa AND the officials, and it didn't take a genius to figure out where his best chance to win was.

[Dabura 12,232]

It's not the fact that the Wings signed Hossa that pisses Pens fans off -- it's Hossa's reason for signing with the Wings, which, as he has said in no uncertain terms, is his overriding desire to play for the best team in the NHL. He's even stated that he stacked the Pens and Wings against each other in deciding where to go, and ultimately decided the Wings are just plain better (as if the Cup weren't proof enough).

[T.Low 1,011]

The difference between the Red Wings and the Penguins is this: he saw his Penguins team lose to the Red Wings, even with Hossa. Since the free agent period, the Penguins have lost a young power forward in Malone and their character guy in Roberts, and a back up goaltender that helped them out a great deal with Fluery went down. On the other hand, that same Red Wings team that handily defeated his Penguins have retained every piece of their championship team that has made a habit of winning and plays to his strengths.

Hossa has wanted to be a Red Wing.

I know this has been linked already, but its a great interview. (Living near Vancouver, you really appreciate how professional Holland is: Burke, Nonis, and already Gillis have all been nothing but very defensive[/i] in every interview I've ever seen them in.)

[DaKineMaui 8]

And can I just point something out here that NO ONE seems to bring up in these discussions? He was with the Penguins for four months Whoop-dee-do. He doesnt owe them anything.

Can I tag in? He's missing about $35,000 a week in payroll now. He's gonna be all the way down to about $140,000 each check. Poor feller. 9 mill/yr vs. 7mill/yr?? C'mon - I can buy groceries on either. Not really a huge factor. Does Red Bird II have digital TVs?

[Superman54 91]

Those were my thoughts exactly. The man was traded to Pittsburgh, and had no choice whatsoever on where to go. He did his part there, and thats all you can ask from him. Now because he would rather play for the team he, lets face it, likes more, the man back stabs Pittsburgh in the back. That right there makes no amount of sense to me at all.