Hossa

[KronwallCRUNCH 5]

No, the problem is Holmstrom does the exact same thing as Hossa. They both wait around waiting, more like expecting, Datsyuk to steal the puck from the corner and create a rush. When Datsyuk gets double teamed, this leads to chances for the other team.

People saying that Hossa is a "Defensive stud" are the same that said Zetterberg's line shutdown the Getzlaf line. Its just not the case, sure Hossa can hold his own but hes not the "Selke" forward we were all led to believe before this off season.

Just once id love to see Hossa throw a hit in the defensive zone... just once.

Hossa does the same thing as Holmstrom? Datsyuk is a center, he belongs in the corners stealing pucks, Hossa doesn't.

Your initial post was complaining that Hossa is our highest paid sniper and isn't scoring goals. Following that train of thought, why do you want him 'throwing hits in the defensive zone?'

My God, man. You're all over the place.

[KronwallCRUNCH 5]

Anyway...

[reggin 0]

Hossa does the same thing as Holmstrom? Datsyuk is a center, he belongs in the corners stealing pucks, Hossa doesn't.

Your initial post was complaining that Hossa is our highest paid sniper and isn't scoring goals. Following that train of thought, why do you want him 'throwing hits in the defensive zone?'

My God, man. You're all over the place.

Hes the highest paid player on the Wings. Datsyuk is third, he throws hits, Zetterberg is fourth, he throws hits.

Hossa plays soft, softer than Franzen and it has nothing to do with his "sniper" status.

[KrazyGangsta 79]

No, the problem is Holmstrom does the exact same thing as Hossa. They both wait around waiting, more like expecting, Datsyuk to steal the puck from the corner and create a rush. When Datsyuk gets double teamed, this leads to chances for the other team.

People saying that Hossa is a "Defensive stud" are the same that said Zetterberg's line shutdown the Getzlaf line. Its just not the case, sure Hossa can hold his own but hes not the "Selke" forward we were all led to believe before this off season.

Just once id love to see Hossa throw a hit in the defensive zone... just once.

[Nightfall 871]

If there is one thing I have learned, it is that all the Wings fans on this forum are just that....fans. They are not the smartest when it comes to hockey as a game. Many of them have never played the game for that matter. Its easy to judge players just based on a scoresheet. Its much harder to look at all the intangibles a player brings to the table. Look at Ken Daneyko for instance. While with the Devils, he won championships, but didn't score or assist much during the regular season or playoffs. His defensive efforts earned him many seasons with a high +-.

There is no changing the minds of some people here. Heck, its a public forum and people can be brutal when it comes to players they hate or love. That being said, I think this Wings team is still a better team we brought to the table than we did last year. Everyone is playing well and doing a great job. So I say stay the course. Our high offensive players are going to break out eventually. Maybe in the finals when we need them most. Patience....

[KronwallCRUNCH 5]

If there is one thing I have learned, it is that all the Wings fans on this forum are just that....fans. They are not the smartest when it comes to hockey as a game. Many of them have never played the game for that matter. Its easy to judge players just based on a scoresheet. Its much harder to look at all the intangibles a player brings to the table. Look at Ken Daneyko for instance. While with the Devils, he won championships, but didn't score or assist much during the regular season or playoffs. His defensive efforts earned him many seasons with a high +-.

Great post

[soonboomer 31]

I wonder if the Hawks are as happy spending $7 million on Campbell as some of you are with the Wings spending similar on Hoss. Sometimes, it's better to look at the whole as opposed to the individual parts. The Wings are the dominate team left (3 to 5 to win the cup!!), are up 2 games to 0 in the conference finals......everything is on track, right? Why all the picking/bitching/whining/complaining (did I omit any)? I wonder if some of you people even ENJOY hockey. Relax, have a drink, and appreciate what's going on. Soon enough all you're gonna have is baseball. GO WINGS!!

[under_par_00 45]

I wonder if the Hawks are as happy spending $7 million on Campbell as some of you are with the Wings spending similar on Hoss. Sometimes, it's better to look at the whole as opposed to the individual parts. The Wings are the dominate team left (3 to 5 to win the cup!!), are up 2 games to 0 in the conference finals......everything is on track, right? Why all the picking/bitching/whining/complaining (did I omit any)? I wonder if some of you people even ENJOY hockey. Relax, have a drink, and appreciate what's going on. Soon enough all you're gonna have is baseball. GO WINGS!!

Please noooooooooo!!!

Anyway to those of you bitching about Hossa's defensive play, he is very active backchecking through the neutral zone. In the defensive zone, he is a winger, not a center like Dats and Z, and certainly not a defenseman like Stuart. His job is to stay near the boards and watch the opposing Dman, and help the team break out of the zone efficiently. I'd say he is doing that pretty well.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

Hossa's looking good out there, he's busting his rear end off and creating chances. Before I get yelled at, yes I get they are paying him to finish off. It's not like he's dragging rear out there. I don't care how good or bad of a player you are, pretty much everybody is going to go on a cold streak at some point in a season. That's hockey. Unfortuantely for Hossa, he's on one right now. It'd be one thing if he was being lazy/sucking out there, but he isn't. See first sentence above. I appreciate the effort he's putting out there. It is noticable. If that's not good enough for some in here that will counter that he's paid to put points up, sorry, that's something we aren't going to fully agree on.

[RockyMountainWingGal 108]

Highest paid player on the team...

doesn't score goals, isn't the best defensive player on his own line, let alone the team.

Yeah, stud isn't the word I would use.

No Lidstrom makes more - Holland won't pay anyone more than Nick, and rightfully so.

Something about Dats and Hossa together - they are both snakebit, but seemingly when you watch they are not all playing all that poorly.

When one of them pulls what Campbell did tonight, then I'll chime in...

[Yak19 303]

I've been dogging him on the offensive end but he has been superb with his backchecking, he is playing well the goals will come.

[NHLrules? 32]

Now if he could just figure out how to do anything on offense, besides commiting atrotious turn overs, wed be all set.

[drfnr14 0]

well, he played good enough for us to win! thats all what matters!

[skacore 2]

He hasn't been amazing defensively but he's been good enough. He'll dazzle you once a period with a backcheck or forecheck and then disappear for the rest of the period, I guess those once a period heroics have really caught the eye of a certain someone. Either way, he's making 7 and a half million dollars!

[YoungGuns1340 1]

Somewhere along the line "backchecking" became equated with "strong all-around defensive play." Hossa is not digging pucks out of corners in the defensive zone. Hes not blocking shots. His forechecks are pathetic. But he backchecks. Lets excuse him now for the fact that he can't score, can't set anyone up, is hit way more than he hits, and in general, does a whole lot more of waiting for the puck to come to him than getting the puck himself.

Once I see Hossa being the first to the puck in most cases, then I'll lay off him. But for the time being, the fact that hes not producing is merely one of many things that he needs to get better at. First and foremost, however, he needs to grow some balls or sprout a work ethic that is comparable to the likes of Cleary, Helm, Zetterberg, and others on this team.

Bottom line: Hossa gives up on the play in the offensive zone. Thats not acceptable at this level. Thats not acceptable for what he is paid to do. And thats not acceptable for a guy who right now looks like hes riding the coattails of hardworkers to a Stanley Cup.

And before anyone starts talking about Datsyuk and Homer, I could say the same thing about him too. But, alas, this is a thread about Hossa.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

He hasn't been amazing defensively but he's been good enough. He'll dazzle you once a period with a backcheck or forecheck and then disappear for the rest of the period, I guess those once a period heroics have really caught the eye of a certain someone. Either way, he's making 7 and a half million dollars!

This is pretty much how I see it. All this "Hossa is working hard" business is bulls***. If Hossa was working as hard as some think he is, we wouldn't be having this discussion.

[Yak19 303]

This is pretty much how I see it. All this "Hossa is working hard" business is bulls***. If Hossa was working as hard as some think he is, we wouldn't be having this discussion.

This!

[Booster313 138]

It makes me wonder if Hossa has an injury...I am going to look for him to up the big O against Pittsburgh...IF we end up meeting them.

[Yzerfan1999 81]

Hossa already scored the goals he got paid for. Players salary is for an 82 game season.

I guess technically you can say that, but players often get contracts based on playoff success. Ken Holland pays players for regular season success, but everyone knows a great performance in the playoffs gets you the big bucks. You can't just check yourself out for the playoffs.

Do you think that if Zetterberg had scored 3 goals last playoffs, Holland would have given him a bijillion year long deal? Not a chance.

Hossa put up great numbers during Pittsburgh's run last year, there is no reason he shouldn't be contributing this year.

Saying all that - I think we will see Hossa and Dats start lighting it up, soon. They are both way too talented to have this go on much longer.

[Yak19 303]

I guess technically you can say that, but players often get contracts based on playoff success. Ken Holland pays players for regular season success, but everyone knows a great performance in the playoffs gets you the big bucks. You can't just check yourself out for the playoffs.

Do you think that if Zetterberg had scored 3 goals last playoffs, Holland would have given him a bijillion year long deal? Not a chance.

Hossa put up great numbers during Pittsburgh's run last year, there is no reason he shouldn't be contributing this year.

Saying all that - I think we will see Hossa and Dats start lighting it up, soon. They are both way too talented to have this go on much longer.

Holland signing Franzen first just shows once again what a class GM he is.

[Dabura 12,232]

This is pretty much how I see it. All this "Hossa is working hard" business is bulls***. If Hossa was working as hard as some think he is, we wouldn't be having this discussion.

You guys are absolutely right. Dude's completely phoning it. Waste of precious cap space. If only we had Leino. Etc.

[Reds4Life 51]

Hossa and Datsyuk better start producing. Good defense is not good enough for top forwards on this team. Zetterberg's line stops producing and Wings are screwed. Dats and Hoss have been riding on Z's line way too long.

[Guest micah]

Somewhere along the line "backchecking" became equated with "strong all-around defensive play." Hossa is not digging pucks out of corners in the defensive zone. Hes not blocking shots. His forechecks are pathetic. But he backchecks. Lets excuse him now for the fact that he can't score, can't set anyone up, is hit way more than he hits, and in general, does a whole lot more of waiting for the puck to come to him than getting the puck himself.

Once I see Hossa being the first to the puck in most cases, then I'll lay off him. But for the time being, the fact that hes not producing is merely one of many things that he needs to get better at. First and foremost, however, he needs to grow some balls or sprout a work ethic that is comparable to the likes of Cleary, Helm, Zetterberg, and others on this team.

Bottom line: Hossa gives up on the play in the offensive zone. Thats not acceptable at this level. Thats not acceptable for what he is paid to do. And thats not acceptable for a guy who right now looks like hes riding the coattails of hardworkers to a Stanley Cup.

And before anyone starts talking about Datsyuk and Homer, I could say the same thing about him too. But, alas, this is a thread about Hossa.

Yup.

Sure, Hossa is backchecking. Great! It's part of his job and he's expected to do it well. He is a high-paid, very skilled player and is expected to consistantly play at a very high level.

Kris Draper is a utility guy. Nothing is expected of him. It's fine to say "Drapes is playing well, he's great on the faceoff and he's so fast!" If Draper were on a scoring line and the only positives people were mentioning were his speed and faceoff prowess, he'd be underperforming. So it is with Dats, so it is with Hossa. These are supposed to be elite forwards, able to do it all and make it look easy. The bar is set higher for them than most, that's how it's supposed to be. If you're given much, much is expected from you. A solid backcheck is not enough if you're Hossa. Even if the team can win games without your help on offense.

[servo 15]

Playing like a stud on D? What about when he's repetitivly thrown the puck blindly off side boards turning it back over leading to more scoring chances?

He backchecks like a monster, but overall, I'm certainly a little critical about his defensive play. I don't really remember him signing to boost our defense *wink*

[Opie 308]

No he signed in Detroit because it gave him the best chance to win a cup, I don't care what he does in the post season, as long as the team is winning, he and Dats both are playing hard, that is what I ask.

Now if Det were losing I would look to blame the high paid players because they are supposed to supply the Offense. But since it is coming from so many different places, I just want everyone skating and playing hard.

Half the time I read this board I have to go back to the recap afterward to make sure the Wings still won the game!