Why Pens fans hate Hossa

[Superman54 91]

The one thing that would piss me off if I were a Pengiuns fan, is the slap in the face with him leaving a amazing team in the Pittsburgh Penguins, to a team he believes is better, and has a greater chance to win a cup next year.

[MidMichSteve 1,115]

Thank you all for understanding where I am coming from.

I do agree, for the record, that our coach, Mike Therrien, is a whiner. He's a good coach though.

But I just felt it would be good to put out my opinion.

Again, congrats on your Cup. Maybe I'll post again sometime.

Next year should be fun.

I'm personally hoping for a Pens Wings rematch.

That'd be nice. We wouldn't have to worry about Hossa!

[egroen 384]

Getting right down to it, if the Wings lose in the playoffs, I bet there is a good chance the victor has a nice shot at grabbing Hossa the next year

Wings fans will be pissed, but even that is worse than what Pittsburgh experienced... he was traded to Pitts and was only there 4 months. A lot of us also realize and accept that Hossa may only be a one year thing.

He kept Pittsburgh as an option, did not lie, but did not play his cards early and say: "I really want to go to Detroit, but if that does not work, I'd still play for the Penguins." Come on, no one is going to say that!

Fedorov is booed and Shanahan is not because we still actually wanted Fedorov.

[therock48880 14]

Hello Wings fans.

I am, as you can likely tell from the title of this thread, a huge Penguins fan. Have been my whole life.

First, congrats on your Cup. It was well deserved.

But I just want to come here to give you all a general explanation of why Marian has fallen from grace here so rapidly.

For a second, pretend you are a Pens fan (and I know, this must be hard for you).

Now, imagine losing the Stanley Cup Final, one of the greatest pains a fan can suffer.

Then, imagine losing a number of your players, Adam Hall, Ryan Malone, Gary Roberts, Jarkko Ruutu, and Ty Conklin all go elsewhere, with Conks heading to the same team that just crushed your dreams a few weeks earlier.

Imagine being misled to think, by Pens management and by Marian himself in an interview, that Hossa was very willing to stay in Pittsburgh, that he wanted to be here.

Imagine Hossa then leaving (and he owed us nothing I know), but not leaving to just any team, but leaving to a team that has already taken so much from us in such a short time.

Lastly, sit there and listen as Hossa states blatantly that the Wings are better than the Pens (though I don't disagree).

We had, at the time, a lot of bottled up anger that was still building, and we still do.

We took out on him, as we all feel that he misled us, and not so pleased with his words as he left.

He is an obvious scapegoat target.

Fortunately, since Hossa's left, we've recovered and signed other players who can try to offset his loss.

So we feel a bit better now.

But I just wanted to explain why we all dislike the guy so much.

We are not crybabies, whiners, losers like some of you have said. We just need(ed) an outlet, and he's it.

Thank you for reading this.

I've got a related question for you. Does the mass exodus of players from the Pens concern you in any way? I realize they've signed some replacements but it just suprised me how many players left and how quickly they left. My initial reaction when I saw everyone leaving was that there is something or someone that the players can't stand. I read a post on letsgopens.com that stated that maybe Therian is the driving force behind these guys leaving? I'm just curious what your perspective on that is.

[therock48880 14]

Off topic: I wonder what Kenny would do if Flip has a year similar to this season, Hossa has a very good year, and the cap goes up 3-6 million dollars. I wonder if he'd be willing to let Hudler and Flip go and re-sign Hossa.

[Rivalred 630]

Off topic: I wonder what Kenny would do if Flip has a year similar to this season, Hossa has a very good year, and the cap goes up 3-6 million dollars. I wonder if he'd be willing to let Hudler and Flip go and re-sign Hossa.

http://www.letsgowings.com/forums/index.ph...80&start=80

[therock48880 14]

http://www.letsgowings.com/forums/index.ph...80&start=80

I know, probably not the right thread but LGW is screwing up for me today. (maybe it's the satellite internet since it's cloudy)

[Vladifan 680]

First of all welcome to LGW.com

Saying that Pittsburgh fans are whiners and crybabies is a generalization. But you have to admit there has been a more and more of it from a lot of fans, the media, and the staff of the Penguins throughout the finals.

A lot of Pittsburgh fans, media, and coaches, and staff aren't owning up to the fact that Pittsburgh was beaten by a better team.

I hear the "If we had shown up for games 1 and 2..." nonsense. All we've heard is that the Pens just didn't show up for this series. Now we hear that Hossa is a traitor and has no loyalty???

As for Hossa. He was a Penguin for a grand total of 4 months??? He was a rental player. Shero knew the risk in trying to get a rental player. Shero gave up three prospects for Dupuis and Hossa. Hossa showed interest in going to Detroit at the deadline. But the Wings wouldn't pay what Atlanta wanted. The Wings were happy with shoring up the defense (one of the Wings strong points). I'll admit there were a lot of fans here who were upset that we didn't get Hossa. If the cost of getting Hossa was too much then Shero shouldn't have made the deal. This shows the difference between Holland and Shero. Holland wasn't willing to mortgage the Wings future for Hossa. Hossa had a friend here in Tomas Kopecky. The Wings play the type of hockey that Hossa wanted. He also saw what was happening in Pittsburgh. He saw the Pens roster already being dismantled. Malone (the hometown boy) got dealt, what message does that send to potential free agents or players on the roster.

Why should Hossa have felt any loyalty to the Pens? He's a free agent, he is free to sign with whom he wants, how much he wants, and how long? His choice... Detroit. The Wings had everything he wanted. The Wings have the best shot at a cup next year... The team was intact, unlike the Pens. He didn't want to be "stuck" in a long term deal in one place. He is keeping his options open for next year's FA period. The Wings will make Franzen and Zetterberg their priority next summer. The Wings have a long history of players taking less money to play in Detroit. They look at it as a family. If he happens to get hurt next season, look at what the Wings have done with Fischer and Konstantinov. I don't think there is a team that has the level of loyalty as the Wings have.

In fact, Pittsburgh fans confuse me. Why is it that you boo Jaromir Jagr... he didn't exactly leave on his own terms, wasn't he dealt at the trade deadline to Washington. Didn't he want to stay??

Why do Pens fan not boo Mario Lemieux. He was more than ready to take the Pens to Kansas City? He basically held your fans and the city hostage with "I'll move them... I swear!!!! I'll do it..."

The world knows that the Penguins are "Crosby's" team, Malkin and Crosby essentially have the same contract. It's hard to lure other free agents if you have nothing left under the cap. There is always the chance that the salary cap could drop. (Not likely, but it could).

You not only have to think about the next season, but you have to look beyond that. Which is what Holland did. He said that he wasn't going to give anybody more money than Nick Lidstrom. He is on a 1 year contract. Pens fans think that he was stupid for not cashing in. Well if he does get hurt, there are insurance policies that players do buy that will take care of that. You don't think Hossa has thought of that? What's wrong with a player wanting to win instead of cash in??? Isn't that what sport is all about? Wasn't the desire to win a championship at any level the main reason that most people play sports???

Pittsburgh is just upset that he went to Detroit... a place he could have ended up at the deadline.

And now your radio guy "Stigerwald" has the class of a diseased rat to say that the JLA smells like garbage and the building is crap... yeah, Pittsburgh's arena is so nice that they are building a new one, after Mario forced their hand so they can cash in on Luxury suites, higher ticket revenues, more corporate dollars, PSL's. Sounds like Mario is more of a bad guy than Hossa is.

One more time, I am proud to be a Wings' fan. This time, because of all the positive, welcoming and polite responses to STK's post. And as most of the responses said (except for this one), we ALL overreact, stereotype and do the Finger-Pointing Thing as fans, just in different degrees.

I thought the original post was right on, and I empathize. Been there! Hell, I may be there again, god forbid...

[Vladifan 680]

HOSSA DIDN'T CHOOSE TO BE A PENGUIN!

What part of that do you Pittsburgh fans not understand? ---->

"Hey I wanna-be Hockeytown... wah wah wah." You're not Hockeytown!

"Hey we sold out 60 games in a row." Big fricken deal, we were selling out our 350th consecutive game in a row, while you guys were thinking about moving to Kansas City.

----->

Of all the fans I've encountered against the Wings, Penguins fans have been above and beyond the worst.

----->

Everyone complains about Philadelphia fans... looks like the apple doesn't fall to far from the tree.

Yeeeeeahhhh.....I'm guessing you haven't been a Wings' fan for a long time? We're champions, dude. And even if we weren't champions, EVERY really good team WILL take their share of crap from other teams as we have for years.

There were the Flyers' fan's in '96. * There's the Avs' fans forever. ("Wings Suck! Wings Suck!" They even wear t-shirts to advertise their stupidity!) There's the Preds' fans. There's the Stars', Blues', Hawks', ad nauseum fans, but even then you must know those idiots represent the minority of their fans. Ok, maybe except for the Avs. :hockeysmile:

I couldn't agree less with most of your response here. No way are Pens' fans the worst. And I would add that I for one got REAL tired of all the whiny-ass posts about Sid the Kid from Wings' fans. We won it all. Move on ahready!

One more time. We ALL do it as fans. You ignore the idiots (or at the most roll your eyes), and you move on and keep rootin' for yer team.

* Speaking of the Flyers and our past rivalry with them....I will never forget how we were at each other's throats. Then, and I can't remember who - I believe one of their players was injured or killed in an auto accident (?somebody help me here...?!), and Wings' fans - along with fans of other teams posted their condolences by the hundreds. And they came right back to us when Konstantinov and Manatsakanov (sp?) were injured. Also by the hundreds. It works both ways and THAT'S what I'll never forget them for. Their kindness and concern when we were really hurting. THAT also happens, dude, and you need to be aware of that side of this discussion.

[zaxx 0]

This thread and anytime a Pens fan whines about Hossa leaving and taking less money just irks me. He left the Pens for MORE money per year. The pens were offering a longer term but $7 million per season. He took more money (7.4 million > 7 million) per year to play in Detroit for one season. Sure he gave up a longer term contract but as long as he can pull through a decent season he can sign with any team he wants next year for the same $7 million the Pens were offering. They wanted to give Hossa $7 million but Malkin $8+ million. Let me ask.. which player was better in the SCF? This is not meant as a comparison of Hossa to Malkin/Crosby nor as a bash to Malkin/Crosby rather a little analysis into why the Pens and their fans have no right to whine.

The Pens delivered a slap in the face to Hossa by offering only $7 million per year and marking him to be paid less then their wonder boys. Hossa would have been third string in the media and on the team if he stayed with the Pens and the crappy contract offer was evidence of this. His veteran status and experience should have had him playing a leadership role for the Pens, not sitting backseat to the Malkin/Crosby show. Just to clarify I call it crappy because they were willing to pay so much more for Malkin who died in the playoffs. Pens fans need to wake up and give their heads a shake. If they really want a cup get rid of the dead weight coach (one of the worst there is), hire a decent coach and show some respect to the players (both current and former)

[Guest Four]

This thread and anytime a Pens fan whines about Hossa leaving and taking less money just irks me. He left the Pens for MORE money per year. The pens were offering a longer term but $7 million per season. He took more money (7.4 million > 7 million) per year to play in Detroit for one season. Sure he gave up a longer term contract but as long as he can pull through a decent season he can sign with any team he wants next year for the same $7 million the Pens were offering. They wanted to give Hossa $7 million but Malkin $8+ million. Let me ask.. which player was better in the SCF? This is not meant as a comparison of Hossa to Malkin/Crosby nor as a bash to Malkin/Crosby rather a little analysis into why the Pens and their fans have no right to whine.

The Pens delivered a slap in the face to Hossa by offering only $7 million per year and marking him to be paid less then their wonder boys. Hossa would have been third string in the media and on the team if he stayed with the Pens and the crappy contract offer was evidence of this. His veteran status and experience should have had him playing a leadership role for the Pens, not sitting backseat to the Malkin/Crosby show. Just to clarify I call it crappy because they were willing to pay so much more for Malkin who died in the playoffs. Pens fans need to wake up and give their heads a shake. If they really want a cup get rid of the dead weight coach (one of the worst there is), hire a decent coach and show some respect to the players (both current and former)

Wouldn't 24M of capspace be taken up by Hossa, Malkin and Crosby in HJossa signed for 8M? :|

That could sign like half our team >.<

[zaxx 0]

Wouldn't 24M of capspace be taken up by Hossa, Malkin and Crosby in HJossa signed for 8M? :|

That could sign like half our team >.<

I agree that it would have been impossible/improbable and just plain stupid for the Pens to sign Hossa for fair market value alongside their other stars. putting 50% of the budget into 3 or 4 players (Marc Andre) is just crazy. However you cannot decide that Hossa is the odd man out, offer him a low balled contract and then get pissed off when he jumps ship. They choose Malkin over Hossa (likely a good decision in the long run) and now the fans are pissed off at Hossa. Give me a break!

[Majsheppard 203]

I totally understand, but some of this is crazy.

I cannot fathom how some people are trying paint Hossa as greedy for NOT taking a huge contract from the Oilers. Or that he betrayed the Pens. He was a penguin for all of a third of an NHL season. It would be way different if it were Malkin or Crosby.

Just as you said Pens fans are upset, you have to admit that some are going too far.

I would care a bit more if I haven't gone to games at the Mellon arena that had less then 2k people in them prior to the gift of Crosby. We were in the same boat in my lifetime so, I wish you well.

Finally with all the "players" lost, the Pens did prob the second best job of cap management in the entire NHL this offseason, and replaced some guys with more players. If they can find chemistry they will once again be the best in the East. I suggest you enjoy your next season, it looks to be a good one.

[STK 0]

I've got a related question for you. Does the mass exodus of players from the Pens concern you in any way? I realize they've signed some replacements but it just suprised me how many players left and how quickly they left. My initial reaction when I saw everyone leaving was that there is something or someone that the players can't stand. I read a post on letsgopens.com that stated that maybe Therian is the driving force behind these guys leaving? I'm just curious what your perspective on that is.

Well, us LGPers have mixed thoughts on MT.

I don't think that he has a huge deal with any of these guys, because Orpik, who supposedly didn't like MT, decided to sign with the Pens anyway.

In short, he's not a players coach. He's a whiner, too. But he is a DAMN GOOD COACH.

[sjradio 0]

In short, he's not a players coach. He's a whiner, too. But he is a DAMN GOOD COACH.

How do you make Therrien out to be a "Damn Good Coach." Because he made the finals once. Wouldn't that make Bob Hartley a good coach? What about Ken Hitchcock, he won a cup but I don't think that makes him a good coach. He was in the right place at the right time with Dallas.

Therrien came into a situation where the Pens were on the way up already. You don't have to be a great coach with Crosby, Malkin, and Fluery.

I would call Bruce Boudreau a good coach. He took a team that was a bottom feeder and made the playoffs with them. The Adams award was well deserving for him. I would call Lindy Ruff a good coach. The Sabres roster is always unstable, he does the best he can with what little he's been given. I would call Barry Trotz a good coach, for the same reason as Ruff in Buffalo.

[Doogs 0]

I have been trying to get logged on here for a while to post exactly the OP added. I can appreciate most of the responses I have read by Wings fans on this. Being a Pens fan wasn't all that much fun in the start of Free Agency.

I think that the exodus of players added to the angst we Pens fans feel. Hossa was just the Big Fish. Every player has the right to move on regardless of the time spent with the team or money offered to them. They owe nothing to us. I do however believe that if Hossa had not strung us along (by not letting on that there was a good chance of him leaving) we may have made more of and effort to sign a Malone, Ruutu, etc. thus avoiding the MAJOR turn over.

In the new CAP era, this turn over will become more and more common. You'll have 2,3,or 4 core players and a revolving door of plug ins. You all in Detriot, seem to have sort of a N.E. Patriots thing going on and that is a tribute to the Orginization, and players you have amassed. I hope you can continue this and never have to feel the exodus... it isn't much fun.

That said, I don't HATE the new Pens lineup, I miss the one we had in the Finals, but you never know. We may get a chance to rematch.

[LionsAndRedwingsAndPistonsOhMy 3]

In the new CAP era, this turn over will become more and more common. You'll have 2,3,or 4 core players and a revolving door of plug ins. You all in Detriot, seem to have sort of a N.E. Patriots thing going on and that is a tribute to the Orginization, and players you have amassed. I hope you can continue this and never have to feel the exodus... it isn't much fun.

Many of us have been fans long enough to have expirienced at least one exodus. We have had our lean years as well....when I was introduced to hockey, the Wings were absolutely terrible. Pens fans have no reason to hate Hossa, it seems completely unreasonable to me. As a side note....some of us are Lions fans as well.....you don't know pain until you watch them suck it up year after year

[sjradio 0]

I have been trying to get logged on here for a while to post exactly the OP added. I can appreciate most of the responses I have read by Wings fans on this. Being a Pens fan wasn't all that much fun in the start of Free Agency.

I think that the exodus of players added to the angst we Pens fans feel. Hossa was just the Big Fish. Every player has the right to move on regardless of the time spent with the team or money offered to them. They owe nothing to us. I do however believe that if Hossa had not strung us along (by not letting on that there was a good chance of him leaving) we may have made more of and effort to sign a Malone, Ruutu, etc. thus avoiding the MAJOR turn over.

In the new CAP era, this turn over will become more and more common. You'll have 2,3,or 4 core players and a revolving door of plug ins. You all in Detriot, seem to have sort of a N.E. Patriots thing going on and that is a tribute to the Orginization, and players you have amassed. I hope you can continue this and never have to feel the exodus... it isn't much fun.

That said, I don't HATE the new Pens lineup, I miss the one we had in the Finals, but you never know. We may get a chance to rematch.

How many different ways does this need to be explained. Hossa never said under oath "I will stay"

All that's been posted by Pens fans on here and LGP.com and the Pens official board, was "Hossa would be willing to take less money to stay" Where was there any indication in that statement that he would be coming back 100%??

Another statement, "Hossa said there was a good chance that he would stay"

I have a personal story that should help explain this. I have been looking to get out of the radio business for the last few months. A few weeks ago, a job opportunity for a PR director's job at a local company was available. I had a foreknowledge of the opening, I put in my resume and letter of intent before the opening was even announced. I am good friends with a number of the board members, other managers, even the person I would replace. I have done work for the company in other capacities. There was a good chance that I was going to get the job. I even interviewed for the job. Last Monday, a week after the interview, I got a call from the head of the company. I didn't get the job, despite being one of the better qualified persons for the job, having an outstanding interview, having the right qualifications, and the right experience.

To sum up.... Good chance wasn't 100%...

[Earthhuman 8]

I'm with you STK. If Hossa left and that was the end of it, ok, it happens, that's sports. I grieved for Schneider for all of... how long did it take to get Raffi after that?

The problem being that Hossa had already cost 3 very good (possibly a top-liner, as well) players, a 1st round pick, then Malone and whoever else's rights were traded. That's a HEAVY, HEAVY price-tag. Even at the trade deadline I was thinking, "That's a god-awful trade." Then he doesn't re-sign. You tell me he didn't have an obligation to stay!?

At the same time, I wouldn't be burning a Hossa jersey. I'd be throwing bricks through Shero's windows. Then I'd follow that up by throwing another brick for every goal one of the lost players' scored. He did an ok job this offseason after losing all those players, but he set himself up for that situation. Too many UFAs. Too much faith in a player staying who was already looking at options. Poor back-up plan.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

The guy plays there for about 30 games, and they're acting like he turned his back on his whole family.

Pens fans are all a bunch of jackasses. Who cares what they think? We heard enough from them as it was during the finals when they trolled here, so there's no reason to talk about them now that they're absent.

[Barrie 900]

All I have to say is, this is Sports and Business, players come and go all the time. I can understand why Pittsburgh fans are upset Hossa signed with the Wings for one year. But what can they do but suck it up, deal with it, and move on.

Besides with the salaries Crosby and Malkin have, Pittsburgh needs to worry about the cap. Adding Hossa to the total maybe to much for them. In the long run, it probably worked out better for the organization anyway.

[Opie 308]

All of the losses, the 3 players traded, the rights that were traded away because Shero couldn't fit them in with Hossa, that is Shero's fault!!!

He played his cards like Hossa was his, even though he had the lowest $ per year offer on the table, he low balled the guy, what did you expect, the only reason he took less than 8 was so he didn't rock the boat in Det. Because he realized that the chemistry in the Wings org is just as important as the skill on the ice.

So Shero low balls him at 7 mil, then he trades away the rights for Malone, he lets Conklin go, loses Roberts, ALMOST loses Orpik, plus he lost 3 very potential laden players at the TD last year for Hossa, and yet Hossa not signing with the Pens is all on Hossa's shoulders.

Shero didn't handle that poorly, oh no of course not, Hossa is just a Benedict Arnold!!!! Sure!

[b.shanafan14 733]

Hossa was a rental player, the Pens traded players and picks for his services and he was a huge reason the Pens did as well as they did in the playoffs and also a big reason they didn't get swept by the Wings. Hossa owes the Pittsburgh Penguins nothing.

As far as saying he "wants to stay in Pittsburgh" that everyone is bitching about, that was one of his options, probably plan B, but what he actually said was "There is a limit, but I'd gladly go for less money to a great team", which he did. Pittsburgh fans say he led them on purely because they assumed "hey, thats us!".

Here is a kid that personifies the self-deception of Pens fans, watch as he plays a clip, the clip says nothing about staying in Pittsburgh, and the kid says see he was alluding to staying with the Pens.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIzu1FvCPZ4

As I said in the comments below: Pittsburgh fans probably think strippers like them too.

[edicius 3,269]

So Shero low balls him at 7 mil, then he trades away the rights for Malone, he lets Conklin go, loses Roberts, ALMOST loses Orpik, plus he lost 3 very potential laden players at the TD last year for Hossa, and yet Hossa not signing with the Pens is all on Hossa's shoulders.

That's actually a good point. Once Hossa saw Shero trading away all the supporting cast, he had to be thinking twice about the quality of the product Pittsburgh would be putting on the ice next season. You don't sell off/trade away a good chunk of your team (and its chemistry) to land a superstar, because no matter how good that one individual is, he can't do it all.

[vladdy16 2,154]

Since when are sports fans rational? You can come up with a hundred reasons why Pens fans shouldn't despise Hossa, but it won't affect how they feel about it one iota. Sports fans are visceral creatures, not generally members of Mensa. (Except me, of course.)