Humble Hossa earns his Wings

[titanium2 867]

Humble Hossa earns his Wings

Bob Wojnowski

He was quiet from the start, too quiet. Marian Hossa eased into the Red Wings' dressing room so deftly, it was easy to forget the screaming headlines when he made the shocking decision, disdaining millions to come to Detroit for a one-year contract.

None of that mattered in the early days of the season, when the Wings' hopes for Hossa were pretty simple. They just wanted him to shoot the dang puck.

"I don't know if he was trying to please his new teammates, but he was always making the extra pass," Nicklas Lidstrom said, chuckling. "We mentioned to him, 'You have a great shot -- take it.' Once he got over that hump, he was a perfect fit."

This is the story the rest of the NHL hates. This is the tale of how the defending Stanley Cup champs defied logistics and welcomed a superstar interloper, and then the oddest thing happened: It worked fine, no ego clashes, no problems. The New Guy was humble and hungry and didn't disrupt the winning chemistry.

As the Wings head into the second round tonight against Anaheim, Hossa is in the spot he always envisioned. He's needed and wanted but doesn't have to do it all, or even the bulk of it. No one on the Wings ever does. And really, of all the unusual reasons Hossa took the Wings' one-year, $7.45-million offer instead of long-term treasures elsewhere, this is the main one, for this time right now.

"Look around, you've got legends in here, and it's a great group of guys," Hossa said. "It's just fun to be a part of it. And they play the way I like, the puck-control game. Playing with so many stars, the pressure is spread, there's no focus on one guy."

Pressure? What pressure?

And there's the dichotomy of the Hossa Experiment. He came to Detroit to win his first Stanley Cup, and by accepting a one-year deal, he put enormous pressure on himself. But the truth is, it's actually less pressure than if he'd stayed in Pittsburgh for a reported $35 million, or gone to Edmonton for the rumored $80 million.

If Hossa is skating with a burden, he sure isn't showing it. He led the team with 40 goals in the regular season, and often was brilliant. He was clutch in the first-round clincher against Columbus, scoring his first two goals of the playoffs.

GM Ken Holland, relentlessly creative, hopes to keep Hossa with a long-term deal, after signing Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg and Johan Franzen to lengthy contracts. It will be tricky under the salary cap, and negotiations are on hold during the playoffs, but I bet Holland and Hossa get it done before free-agency July 1.

"Hopefully, if everybody's happy and things work out, I can re-sign," Hossa said. "If not, life goes on. I knew what I was doing when I signed. I like the way everything is going so far. I have no regrets."

Said Holland: "We want him to stay and I think he'd like to stay, and I'm hopeful we can find a cap number that works. I don't think he's all about money, he's made that pretty clear, and that says something about him. He's humble, respectful, hard-working. He's not arrogant, he's not loud. He just wants to fit in."

Chemistry

It's amazing it has worked so well, because adding a star to an established championship team could be a recipe for discord. But Hossa quickly exhibited what the Wings crave -- star skills without the star trappings. They like him not because he sacrificed long-term security, but because he's likeable.

"He's a typical Red Wing already," goalie Chris Osgood said. "He's laid-back and he doesn't have that superstar mentality where he thinks he's better than other guys. We've always had Steve Yzerman and guys like that -- great players who never put themselves ahead of anybody. Hossa gets along with everybody, he talks to everybody."

Well, actually, he triesto talk to everybody. Linemate Datsyuk, who uses a clever mix of broken English and unbroken Russian, is known as the dressing-room quipster, whether the joke is understood or not.

Hossa knew if they were going to enjoy unspoken communication on the ice, it had to work off the ice.

"When he tells a joke, it takes me a couple seconds, then I just start laughing," Hossa said, laughing. "It did take me through training camp to figure out what kind of style they want from me. But with Pavel it's easy, because he just tries to find me and throw the puck to the open spot. That's basically our game, and so far it's been working."

Working well enough that Datsyuk is a finalist for the Hart Trophy, and the Hossa-Datsyuk-Tomas Holmstrom line is as dangerous as any.

Hossa is a solid 6-foot-1, 208 pounds, a terrific skater with a wicked shot. He's only 30, and after a few years of playoff underachievement in Ottawa and Atlanta, he has a chance to find his peak here.

But first, he had to find his shot, and then he had to find his seat. Uh, that would be the seat in the rear of the team plane, where the elders gather. It took a while for Hossa to join captain Lidstrom, Chris Chelios, Holmstrom and others back there. Lidstrom said Hossa finally took Dominik Hasek's old seat, and likes the fit.

"I really think he feels comfortable here," Lidstrom said. "Seeing him on an everyday basis now, I had no idea how quick he was. I knew he had that shot, but I didn't realize all the other stuff, especially how humble he is."

With the Wings, all egos are checked at the door, and all must check on the ice. No problem for Hossa, who gambled and brought his best shot to the team with the best shot, and now happily fires away.

Edited May 1, 2009 by titanium2

[ChelisChick 174]

He's simply wonderful. He's so good to the fans too.

He signed everything put in front of him. Just a class act all the way around. And I pray we get to keep him!!!

Oh and by the way, that's NOT me!

Edited May 1, 2009 by ChelisChick

[titanium2 867]

Oh and by the way, that's NOT me!

For a second there I thought he was signing that woman's breasts.

[ruarc' 2]

Whatever happens at the conclusion of this year...

it has truly been a privilige to watch this guy play in a Wings uni!

[ChelisChick 174]

For a second there I thought he was signing that woman's breasts.

Well, as saggy as they were, he's at the right angle.

Bad Kristi! *slaps own hand*

Maybe this will help get that image out of everyone's head

[EuroTwin 240]

So much love for this man. And if he leaves, I will be terribly sad. I wish there was a way to keep him and the rest of the team together. I'm very greedy, I know.

[Ms_Hockey 0]

Wow. I really love Hossa and the fit he is with this team. It's truly inspirational to know that he can have such fandom and still be humble about it.

[titanium2 867]

In my dreams I imagine the Red Wings brass saying, "Screw this salary cap, we're going to do what we want!" and then I wake up and remember that as long as a team is over the cap they forfeit every game. Stupid people and their rules.

[kylee 727]

always easy to root for the good guys! (plus it doesnt hurt that this specific "good guy" is a superstar either!)

[Reds4Life 51]

Marián rocks

[Superted 0]

Can we sign him for a measly $2mil a year and promise him free Arby's the rest of his life?

[#18 the _Hoss_ 2]

Thanks for posting. Wonderful !

[SoDakWing 8]

Can we sign him for a measly $2mil a year and promise him free Arby's the rest of his life?

That and throw in Little Ceasers and I think he might do it.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

With how seamlessly he's fit in on this team it's sure going to be a tough pill to swallow if the Wings just can't come to a number that keeps him under the cap and that he can live with. As I said before the season started, I'll hold absolutely no ill-will toward Hossa if he moves on after this season, because he's already fulfilled his end of the contract. Everything from here on out is a bonus.

I sure hope he gets to raise the Cup this year. How special and fitting after the sacrifice he made this offseason.

[puckloo39 5,686]

With how seamlessly he's fit in on this team it's sure going to be a tough pill to swallow if the Wings just can't come to a number that keeps him under the cap and that he can live with. As I said before the season started, I'll hold absolutely no ill-will toward Hossa if he moves on after this season, because he's already fulfilled his end of the contract. Everything from here on out is a bonus.

I sure hope he gets to raise the Cup this year. How special and fitting after the sacrifice he made this offseason.

amen to all of this, Mac. Hossa is a perfect fit with the Wings, and I will be sorry if it doesn't work out. But I do hope he can stay.

[ilmickeyli 40]

I love you, Marian!!! Agree with the rest of the posts in this thread.. Obviously I want him here long-term but am a realist. Will not hold anything against him if they cant agree on a number.

I do hope he is our Dallas Drake for this year... All I'm sayin..

[HockeyCrazy3033 168]

I LOVE YOUUU HOSSA.

He is amazing.

[Casey 145]

I'm hoping that when his agent said the cap wouldn't be a problem that they meant it. He's made plenty- now come play!

[Opie 308]

Perfect metallity for this locker room.

Championship and nothing else will satisfy him.

Do you know what makes someone fit in the wings locker room, play the game the right way on the ice, and focus on winning not your own stats.

Hossa fits perfectly and I would have never guessed.

This guy is filthy nasty and if he can be a wing for long term that would be absolutely astounding, however I am not holding my breath nor will I hold it against him if he bolts. He has done more than fulfill his obligation to this team, now it is time for this team to pull together and complete their mission!

[StormJH1 231]

What a treat it is to be a Red Wings fan. I swear that I do my best to appreciate every minute of the good times like this because you know it can't last forever (but with Ken Holland, anything is possible). How many teams go through a magical Cup run like the Wings did and still go out and grab the most valuable free agent on the market a month later? And in a Cap era?

Hossa's been a terrific fit, and when you go through stretches (as you always will) where guys like Datsyuk and Zetterberg are struggling in the regular season, he seemed like the best player on the ice. I never realized from his time in Ottawa and Atlanta how great of a 2-way player he is also, though if the Wings wanted him, I shouldn't be surprised.

[StormJH1 231]

I love you, Marian!!! Agree with the rest of the posts in this thread.. Obviously I want him here long-term but am a realist. Will not hold anything against him if they cant agree on a number.

I do hope he is our Dallas Drake for this year... All I'm sayin..

I hope that a lot of people share your sentiment, whether this year turns out to be a 2nd round exit or a Cup repeat. We all knew what this was when he signed. Holland pulled off something that nobody thought would've been possible, and he's ALREADY been successful in locking up Datsyuk, Zetterberg, and Franzen to long term deals. That alone is worthy of praise.

If #81 leaves after this season, not a single fan should be angry at him or the organization, given the circumstances. And beyond his statistical contributions, having Hossa on this team refocuses the other guys in the way that the 2002 Wings played harder for Robataille and Duschene-type guys (and Datsyuk, as well) who hadn't won a Cup up to that point.

LETS GO WINGS!

[elriqo28 2]

That and throw in Little Ceasers and I think he might do it.

I think they should just fire the water boy and pay Hossa 7 mil a year to fill water and then pay him league minimum to play hockey. cap issue solved!

[DatsMyWings13 4]

It'll be sad to see him leave if we're unable to resign him. He's been a great addition to a great team.

GO WINGS!!

[T.Low 1,011]

Props for a great thread!

[HadThomasVokounOnFortSt 878]

We need Hossa.