Why Pens fans hate Hossa

[Guest Four]

Mario was the biggest whiner in the league when he played and it rubbed off on the whole organization. Sid has a great teacher in whine with Mario which explains why he's soooo good at it.

I've never really liked an big stars that played in Pittsburgh... Jagr, Mario, Cindy, Geno.. UGH

Luckily, I can honestly say I was glad when Schneider and Bert left.

Edited July 7, 2008 by Four

[Matt 1,049]

To be fair, the other 29 fans could say the same about Detroit. Fedorov gets booed and Shanny doesn't.

Just to be clear, Shanahan hasn't played here yet. (Away in 2006-07 and the clubs didn't meet last year.) But I think the point would be valid eventually, anyway: Shanahan wouldn't get booed here.

The Fedorov boos the last couple of years seem more novelty-based than any kind of genuine vitriol.

[Chelios57 31]

HOSSA DIDN'T CHOOSE TO BE A PENGUIN!

What part of that do you Pittsburgh fans not understand? We know what you're going through, I was really sad to see Bertuzzi and Schneider defect. Hossa never made the decision to become a Penguin, he was traded. He was only on your team for half a season. The Penguins lost to a much better run team. Your "captain" ******* and moans... HE SHOULD NOT BE A CAPTAIN, and believe us we know what it takes to be a Captain (see Yzerman 19). Your coach ******* and moans, our coach just does his job, he wins.

"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.

I understand your pain about losing Hossa, but he never chose to be a Penguin. I wish Bertuzzi was still here, but the reality of it is, it's their choice, and your fans should ***** less about losing a rental player. If Hossa leaves Detroit next season I'll understand, it'll be ok.

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.

[Z and D for the C 712]

God I can't wait for the duck/wing games!

Haha, same

[lets go pavel 2]

unless i'm mistaken, didn't the pens trade away malone's rights (and roberts', but primarily malone's) specifically because they needed cap space to sign hossa and they were given the impression that he would sign with them provided the money was there?

that's why i would be pissed if i were a pens fan ... if the wings gave up the rights to one of our better players to sign hossa, and hossa said he wanted to play for us, and then went and signed elsewhere for less ... oh yeah, we'd all be pissed ...

otherwise, the guy leaving is just sour grapes ...

[rayzer 0]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aw7i37iz57U

Edited July 7, 2008 by rayzer

[Guest nutz2u]

I've never really liked an big stars that played in Pittsburgh... Jagr, Mario, Cindy, Geno.. UGH

Luckily, I can honestly say I was glad when Schneider and Bert left.

Yessssssssssssssssssssssssssss!

[Seraph 240]

It all boils down to Pittsburgh being mad that Hossa thinks Detroit is a better team. Easy as that.

The Pens haven't admitted that they lost because Detroit plays better. They don't think Hossa should either.

[Chuk 0]

I really dont see any reason to be upset. Pen fans should have known, just like everyone else aound the leauge knew that he was nothing but a "rental" player in their charge for the cup. Everyone knew from the day he signed there that there would be little to no chance Pit. would be able to fit him in the next season salary cap. Its nothing like the pronger issue where he signed a long term deal and bailed after one season. And like everyone else has said, he was a "Free Agent" he has every right to go to any team he'd like too.

[This Is Bida 0]

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.

Oh my god... Seriously! People... please please read this post. Truer words have never been spoken.

Other than that, I just gotta say, first and foremost this Hossa deal is in NO WAY similar to what went down with Fedorov. The Wings and Fedorov had a long history together and over that time Fedorov had become a fan favorite only to leave a club that had a legitimate chance of winning the Cup to a team that had no chance.

Basically... It's complete opposites. Fedorov was a longtime Wing and fan-favorite. Hossa played in Pitt for a couple months, not long enough to grow any ties to their fans. Fedorov left a Cup contender to play for some crap team for MORE money. Hossa left a Pens team that was losing players to come to a gauranteed Cup contender for LESS money!

I just find it all so funny because everyone sees a sell-out like Fedorov who only wants the paycheck and doesn't care about winning the Cup and they rag on him (which is very well how it should be) yet when you see a true sportsman like Hossa who will take a paycut in hopes of hoisting the beloved Cup he is deemed a 'backstabber' or 'traitor'.

Such a freakin' joke! The only comparison I can think of is if Stuart would have left Detroit after this season. Too many people sat here and called him yet but I'm sorry, he had no choice in coming here at the trade deadline and if he decided to go back to Cali to be with his family (with a ring to boot) I happily would have wished him farewell and 'thank you' for helping us hoist the Cup.

I mean, are you guys gonna be mad if we don't win the Cup next year and we don't have the money to resign Hossa and he bails? I truly hope no Wings fan gets as upset as any of these Pens fans, thats for sure!

Sorry, but all these Pens fans are joking themselves if they think Hossa owed them ANYTHING! GET OVER IT!

Go cry about Conklin if you're gonna cry about Hossa!

[RockyMountainWingGal 108]

Personally, I think he should have signed the long term offer with the Pens. Your team has Crosby, Malkin, Fleury, and now Orpik long term AND they play in the East - a bit of an easier road to the finals.

But obviously he wanted to go to Detroit - no matter the deal (not like 7.4 is nil). He's taking a big risk by doing so.

I can relate to the "didn't want to play in Pitt" aka Hossa with Federov merely on the basis that Sergei in so many words "didn't want to play for the Wings anymore".

But as above posters have suggested, the Fedorov deal was a big blow to the fans that supported and loved him. Let's just say love-hate relationship because Sergei came with some drama. Hossa has only been in Pitt a few months - imagine how that would feel if he had been there for 12 years - heartache!

The good news for the Pens is... the Wings were able to move on successfully w/o Fedorov - something I was skeptical of at the time. The Pens obviously had immediate backup plans with their other signings and should be able to move on OK also....

[Rivalred 630]

STK,

The Wings tried to land Hossa during the trade deadline, but the price was too high... Reports indicated that Hossa wanted to come to Detroit for a while now...

I can understand your frustration - but like others have pointed out he was only with the team for a very short stint - the Wings lost Fedorov to the Ducks after they beat us in the playoffs in 02-03 - yet Sergei was with the team for years and through 3 Stanley Cups...

You have Malkin, Fleury, and Crosby - 3 of the best young stars in hockey right now - Yes Hossa left, but there are many others that "flew the Igloo" also - may need to re-examine your frustrations...

[Z and D for the C 712]

Does anyone actually think, past an unlikely superstar performance, that Franzen will take Priority over Hossa? I love Franzen, but I mean, come on. Be realistic.

[FireCaptain 563]

One point of contention.

Fedorov left for the same money (less, actually on an annual basis).

Wings offered him $40MM/4 years ($10MM/per).

Ducks offered him $40MM/5 years ($8MM/per).

He didn't leave for more money.

Fedorov left a Cup contender to play for some crap team for MORE money.

[STK 0]

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.

[STK 0]

Mario was the biggest whiner in the league when he played and it rubbed off on the whole organization. Sid has a great teacher in whine with Mario which explains why he's soooo good at it.

Respectfully, please don't take shots at Mario Lemieux.

He's my hockey hero, and he's been through quite a bit to get to where he is today.

You wouldn't like it if I took shots at Abel and Howe.

[STK 0]

Oh my god... Seriously! People... please please read this post. Truer words have never been spoken.

Other than that, I just gotta say, first and foremost this Hossa deal is in NO WAY similar to what went down with Fedorov. The Wings and Fedorov had a long history together and over that time Fedorov had become a fan favorite only to leave a club that had a legitimate chance of winning the Cup to a team that had no chance.

Basically... It's complete opposites. Fedorov was a longtime Wing and fan-favorite. Hossa played in Pitt for a couple months, not long enough to grow any ties to their fans. Fedorov left a Cup contender to play for some crap team for MORE money. Hossa left a Pens team that was losing players to come to a gauranteed Cup contender for LESS money!

I just find it all so funny because everyone sees a sell-out like Fedorov who only wants the paycheck and doesn't care about winning the Cup and they rag on him (which is very well how it should be) yet when you see a true sportsman like Hossa who will take a paycut in hopes of hoisting the beloved Cup he is deemed a 'backstabber' or 'traitor'.

Such a freakin' joke! The only comparison I can think of is if Stuart would have left Detroit after this season. Too many people sat here and called him yet but I'm sorry, he had no choice in coming here at the trade deadline and if he decided to go back to Cali to be with his family (with a ring to boot) I happily would have wished him farewell and 'thank you' for helping us hoist the Cup.

I mean, are you guys gonna be mad if we don't win the Cup next year and we don't have the money to resign Hossa and he bails? I truly hope no Wings fan gets as upset as any of these Pens fans, thats for sure!

Sorry, but all these Pens fans are joking themselves if they think Hossa owed them ANYTHING! GET OVER IT!

Go cry about Conklin if you're gonna cry about Hossa!

We are very sad about Conks too, but he's a backup goalie. You get over it faster.

I am very much over Hossa's departure, though I don't like him as much now as I used to.

The Pens have moved on with Cooke, Satan, and Fedotenko, and look to contend again next year.

When you get the cold shoulder from someone that you tried very hard to keep, it's just not fun, and human nature is to feel a sense of betrayal.

I'm sure, that if the Wings had a few bad years, the team wasn't doing as well, and Nicky Lidstrom then left you to go the Penguins, who had just beaten you in the SCF no less, and on the way out gave your team a slap to the face by letting it be known that he rejected them when it came down to the final two teams?

That's all I'm saying here.

They are bitter about the way he left, by expressing a desire to stay here and leaving, and by saying that the Wings gave him a better Cup shot, and I think that factors into it.

If the Pens had won the Cup and Hossa had scored with 1 second left in Game 6, and Marian had said thank you for my time this is a great franchise now it's time to move on, we'd have all been fine.

But instead, he ends his tenure here with a shot off the post, a misleading statement, and a verbal slap.

And on the issue of Jagr, he is not hated here. He gets booed, yes, but Federov gets booed in JLA too, right?

We really, as a majority, do like JJ very much but with him being a Ranger all those years, and the whole "Dying Alive" thing his last year here, things went south. His jersey here may even be raised to the rafters.

If you haven't picked up on it, the way you go is very important among many fans here.

[Holmstrom96Screens 0]

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.

STK :

I know how you feel and I know why you feel this way. And i've said so very often on both the wings official board and the pens official board.

In fact I stood up for you when people were going "haha your conference sucks and the west is best"

and I said Honest to God, I do not think pens fans need this right now. They've been hurt.

There is a time and a place for this "your conference sucks" bit.

you had a nice little team that made it to the SC finals for the first time in 16 years. a good accomplishment.

Now your team had split, so many leaving.

and two came to our team.

One who I can certainly see why it is like a stab in the back for you. and he does seem two faced.

Does he really like us, or is he here just to win a cup?

We will see.

I just wanted to post here to let you know I know exactly why you guys feel this way.

At least you have a something to smile about. Marc - Andre has signed with you for 7 years. He loves you.

Take happiness in that and concentrate on those who do love you and try not to let Hossa get to you. because for all we know he might stab us in the back if we failt to win the cup again next year. (hey it could happen.)

[Guest Four]

When you get the cold shoulder from someone that you tried very hard to keep, it's just not fun, and human nature is to feel a sense of betrayal.

I'm sure, that if the Wings had a few bad years, the team wasn't doing as well, and Nicky Lidstrom then left you to go the Penguins, who had just beaten you in the SCF no less, and on the way out gave your team a slap to the face by letting it be known that he rejected them when it came down to the final two teams?

Lidstrom is has been a long term Red Wing - Hossa was a Penguin for four months.. I know you're implying the skill level in your post too, but losing Lidstrom and losing Hossa are on two whole different wave-lengths

Edited July 7, 2008 by Four

[YoungGuns1340 1]

Hossa leaving the Pens is in no way comparable to the Red Wings losing Fedorov or even Schneider. The Penguins didn't draft Hossa, treat him like a king, fight for his rights in an offer-sheet war, give him ice time, cups, and talented linemates to boot, and then get left for another team simply because he felt he had been mistreated and wanted more ice time and fame.

As for Schneider, he was a Red Wing for four seasons, and had already re-upped once with the Red Wings, showing at least some measure of loyalty. And even then, Wings fans complained, but there weren't articles being written in the newspaper and internet trashing a guy who took less money to win. Sure he went to the Ducks, but more people trashed Burke for offering him an overpaying contract than anything.

As for Hossa, he was a Penguin for all of four months. He also told the Penguins that he was going to test free agency days before free agency even started, and this was going on while Shero was trying to trade away the rights to fairly significant roster players, and with rumors abound about the Penguins 2nd best player possibly getting traded. The guy wants to compete and yet the Penguins are trying to re-sign him when they have question marks littering their roster.

So, no, I don't really have sympathy for the amount and extent of complaining that Pens fans are doing. Do I understand some of the anger? Naturally of course. But I wouldn't go trashing the ethics of a guy who was on my favorite team for not even half a season and signed with a team with no question marks or holes for less money.

If you ask me, Pens fans aren't pissed at Hossa for leaving. They're pissed because his signing just added further proof that the majority of the league and its players think that the Red Wings are simply better than the Penguins. Its would've been a lot easier for Pens fans to say "oh well he only left for the money". But in this case, Hossa is basically saying Pittsburgh is not as good as Detroit. And thats what pisses me off about this entire situation. Their little egos are hurt, yet they're taking it out on a guy who actually made a classy move in putting his sport before his wallet.

Edited July 7, 2008 by YoungGuns1340

[STK 0]

Lidstrom is has been a long term Red Wing - Hossa was a Penguin for four months.. I know you're implying the skill level in your post too, but losing Lidstrom and losing Hossa are on two whole different wave-lengths

But would you not feel betrayed and upset by it? I think you would.

We really did become attached to 18 while he was here.

I loved the guy so much (and I don't hate him like some other Pens fans do), that my girlfriend and I, everytime I texted her, started it with HOSSSSSSAAAAAA. And we had facebook groups and all that good stuff.

I realize Lids is an IDOL in Det. and why not. But it's a similar concept.

[Guest Four]

But would you not feel betrayed and upset by it? I think you would.

We really did become attached to 18 while he was here.

I loved the guy so much (and I don't hate him like some other Pens fans do), that my girlfriend and I, everytime I texted her, started it with HOSSSSSSAAAAAA. And we had facebook groups and all that good stuff.

I realize Lids is an IDOL in Det. and why not. But it's a similar concept.

Obviously I would feel upset if either Lidstrom or Hossa left. But the betray I'd feel from Lidstrom is far greater than Hossa could ever generate. In fact if Hossa doesn't sign an extension, I wouldn't feel too betrayed, after all he only signed one year and has his eyes on winning one cup. If he re-signed, THEN I would hope he constantly sticks around. But four months? You really shouldn't have expected a guy you acquired at deadline who was going to be UFA to re-sign. I do also realize that he basically flipped the switch and went against his word and that solely would be the only thing I'd feel betrayed by. If he did something like that at the end of the year, I wouldn't burn his jersey because of it, but I would be a little upset.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

But would you not feel betrayed and upset by it? I think you would.

We really did become attached to 18 while he was here.

I loved the guy so much (and I don't hate him like some other Pens fans do), that my girlfriend and I, everytime I texted her, started it with HOSSSSSSAAAAAA. And we had facebook groups and all that good stuff.

I realize Lids is an IDOL in Det. and why not. But it's a similar concept.

I know what you're getting at, but you're comparing a 6 time Norris winner who's played with the Wings his entire career (16+ seasons) to a guy who played a total of 32 games in a Penguins sweater. There's getting attached, then there's getting attached. It's not really a similar concept.

Like I said earlier, Wings fans here would likely be forming a lynch mob too if the situation was reversed, but I don't really think it's justified. Hossa was a deadline acquisition who took a one year deal to try and win the Cup.

[SwedeLundin77 460]

It's pretty well known, like previous posters have said already, that Hossa wanted to come to Detroit at the deadline and Detroit wanted to get him, but they weren't willing to pay the excessive price-tag for a potential RENTAL player. Hossa did not choose to go to the Penguins, he had to go there by way of trade. He is not obligated to stay anywhere, of course he probably had a good time going for the cup, but unlike other Pen fans and the organization over there, he obviously attributes losing to the fact that the Red Wings were the better overall team and decided that he wanted to be a part of an organization that takes care of their players first and has a storied franchise filled with success. He recognized that Detroit from the top down, is determined and loyal, in winning and providing a top class organization.

Pens really need to get over it, it sucked to lose a superstar, but just be happy that you have three still. Your GM should have been more intelligent in his contract negotiations and timing. Seriously look at how many UFA/RFA's you had eligible in one season, that is rediculous and shows a lack of looking a head and planning ahead. Just look at the contracts for the Wings and compare. We took care of Cleary during the season, and Stuart was a rental who we already shored up. Other than that and Filppula, our only FA's are prospects. Next year we have three prominent UFA's in Zetterberg, Franzen, and Hudler. You can bet your ass that one if not two of those guys will have extensions by the time playoffs hit next season.

Tell your GM to plan ahead and you wouldn't have had this mess in the first place. Recognize it just like Hossa did. Burning a Hossa shirt just shows how classless some of your fans are.

There is understanding here, but ZERO sympathy.

[chuklz 15]

Sorry Pens fan posts like this just confirm that Pittsburgh is a city of noobs, who believed their own hype. 4 month rent a player is garnering your ire? please it must mean you started watching hockey during this year's playoffs. Sorry Crosby is not the Next One.

Get over it. Feel stupid for dealing Malone out if you must.

p.s. the Eastern Conference is in fact weaksauce. You wouldn't have made it past the semi finals if you were in the Western Conference, and any other ECF champ would have gotten swept by the wings. Dallas or the Ducks would have had the Penguins for lunch. The only team you might have beat would have been the Avs.