Detroit to offer Hossa long term deal

[zenway9 1]

The article doesn't really say anything about Hossa signing a long term deal. Kind of just speculates. Lets post something like this when they really DO offer him the deal, cool?

[T.Low 1,011]

$4m is a bargain for Marian Hossa. I would definitely like to see him stay at that price.

But we'll find out soon enough if he'll sign for that. Is his pride big enough to want to stay here and finish what he started, cause you know he'll get a long term for $7-8m/yr from someone else.

If he stays and is a major factor in winning the cup a couple times, '09 will be but a chapter in his bio instead of the epitaph on his grave stone. And he'll still retire with more millions than...I would know what to do with.

Will he stay or will he go.

[rage 24]

Why sign a playoff choker, I don't get it...

I wouldn't call him that.

He had 26 pts in 20 GP's last years' playoffs.

[Guest mindfly]

I wouldn't call him that.

He had 26 pts in 20 GP's last years' playoffs.

So he should have had similar this year, playing for a better team and all? No he couldn't handle the pressure of meeting his former team.. now you know his personality a bit more, can't handle the pressure situations... just perform in couldn't-care-less-regular-season.. great...

[WalleyeHockey09 0]

We actually can't call him a Playoff choker when last year he was one of the top scorers in the Playoffs! I think the pressure hurt him this year! I will take him!

[OsGOD 3]

so he is a pressure choker.... i will buy that

[Firehawk 305]

Uh, if you can get a 40-goal scorer for 4 million a year, you take it, no questions asked.

People, stop thinking with your heart and think logically. Hossa was the Pens' best playoff performer last year. I don't pin this collapse this year on him. It's wrong to do that.

[rage 24]

so he is a pressure choker.... i will buy that

Yeah, I'd buy that before I'd buy "choker".

I'd totally sign him for a $4mill/yr cap hit.

[mjlegend 155]

Uh, if you can get a 40-goal scorer for 4 million a year, you take it, no questions asked.

Particularly when Heatley and his $7.5 million yoke are being shopped around.

We can work with $4 million.

[Herr Hockey 0]

Now that my mind is 100% clear after the loss, I'm completely in favor of signing Hossa. It's not Hossa vs. Sammy and Huds, it's Hossa and a 1st vs. Sammy and Huds. Hudler will get an offer sheet for over 2.6m, and we get a 1st.

[Booster313 138]

I expect the deal to be closer to 5 million but I still think that if we can get it done that we should.

[germanwing 154]

Hossa for 4 mill would be great!

Hossa´s POs stats in his career show, that he wasn´t a big scorer (except last year with Pittsburgh). But i do believe, that he will step up in next years POs!

It would be great, to see him in a wings-jersey for the next years!

[Dominator2005 558]

I expect the deal to be closer to 5 million but I still think that if we can get it done that we should.

I agree - it's fair deal $5M per season / 7 years...

[dat's sick 1,002]

Anyone who wouldn't want Hossa for a 4-mil cap hit is an idiot. He is a huge bargain at 5, underpaid at 6 and probably worth atleast 7 (to some teams). He didn't have a huge playoffs this year (though 15p in 23 games and solid defense isn't choking imo), but neither did Datsyuk and a couple of other guys that didn't have half the pressure on them that Hossa had.

That said, the article just seems to speculate. I have a feeling Hossa will be signed, but I see him getting closer to 5 mil.

[Dominator2005 558]

http://www.freep.com/article/20090615/COL2...k4AADurxb5T8%3D

I want you to choose between two players.

Player 1 will turn 31 this summer. He has played 98 playoff games.

Player 2 will turn 31 next winter. He has also played 98 playoff games, and let me take a moment to thank him for that, because it makes this comparison almost perfect.

Player 1's career postseason numbers: 22 goals, 41 assists, plus-19.

Player 2's career postseason numbers: 31 goals, 45 assists, plus-4.

Which player would you rather have?

I'll give you a moment to think about it. (I'm whistling ... whistling ... OK, time's up.)

Have you made your choice? Good.

Player 1 is Pavel Datsyuk.

Player 2 is Hossa.

Surprised?

Yes, Datsyuk has a better plus-minus. And yes, Datsyuk's numbers are slightly skewed by poor playoff performances early in his career and by injuries. But remember: Datsyuk was not always the focus of opposing teams in those early years, and some players are more injury-prone than others. That is part of the package.

Anyway, the point here is not that I'd take Hossa over Datsyuk. I wouldn't, and that is irrelevant anyway. The Wings don't have to choose.

(2 of 2)

The question is not: Hossa or Datsyuk? It is: Hossa or no Hossa? Or, to be more accurate: Hossa, or the players you could keep instead of Hossa?

Hossa is a big, aggressive, skilled forward -- precisely the kind of player who should perform well in the postseason. Players of his size and talent are rare.

Did Hossa crack under the stress of trying to win the Cup on a one-year deal, especially against the team he snubbed? Yes, I think so.

But Hossa played under pressure in last year's playoffs, too. He had only 29 goals in the regular season, his lowest total in eight years, and was playing for a new contract. Yet Hossa piled up 12 goals and 26 points in 20 playoff games. So we may have just witnessed a one-year aberration.

I understand why fans are frustrated with Hossa. He was a frustrating player the past two months.

But the last time I saw general manager Ken Holland, he was wearing a suit and tie, not a jersey and face paint; he is an executive, not a fan. Executives understand that a talent like Hossa is hard to replace.

Holland has been told many times over the years that certain players had to go or that it was time to break up the Wings. He doesn't make these decisions on the emotion of the moment.

Hossa's teammates like him. He fits the team's culture, and he's a 40-goal scorer in a league with precious few of those.

Keeping Hossa probably would cost the Wings Mikael Samuelsson and Jiri Hudler. That is the unfortunate reality of a salary-cap league. But the Wings have a strong system and should be able to survive.

Marian Hossa was hard to find during these Stanley Cup finals. But a replacement would be harder to find.

[Dominator2005 558]

Anyone who wouldn't want Hossa for a 4-mil cap hit is an idiot. He is a huge bargain at 5, underpaid at 6 and probably worth atleast 7 (to some teams). He didn't have a huge playoffs this year (though 15p in 23 games and solid defense isn't choking imo), but neither did Datsyuk and a couple of other guys that didn't have half the pressure on them that Hossa had.

That said, the article just seems to speculate. I have a feeling Hossa will be signed, but I see him getting closer to 5 mil.

I'm pretty sure that Montreal will offer him at least $7M / season, longterm deal.

To all Hossa haters - he took less to play here - let's give him credit (40 goals season).

[gcom007 1,465]

So he should have had similar this year, playing for a better team and all? No he couldn't handle the pressure of meeting his former team.. now you know his personality a bit more, can't handle the pressure situations... just perform in couldn't-care-less-regular-season.. great...

Osgood sure sucks too. Should've started Conklin.

If we keep Hossa, he'll be huge for us next year.

If you believe in guys with that kind of talent and give them a chance with good people around them, they'll find their game and live up to their superstar status.

I don't doubt Hossa at all. The guy is going to be that much more hungry next year; he'll be that much more experienced.

I know you'll ride the hype train, but I'll stick to what I know is right. It hasn't failed me yet.

[WingZNut13 99]

This is great news!!!

I really hope Hossa can come back and play for the Red Wings next season. 4 million would be a nice bargin to have him. Someone said something about a NTC. I think that is a great idea.

If he continues to suck...you can look to trade him for maybe 2 players or another comparabe player. I really hope Ken Holland works his magic and gets Hossa back to Hockeytown.

[Casey 145]

Hmmm...

This is difficult.

NO matter what I try, even if Hudler, Holmstrom, Maltby and Samuelsson go, I can't make the cap work with Hossa at 4M. I'm coming up with some nice lines, but only 11 forwards. Moving a Dman is the only sensible choice, but who? Stuart/Kronwall were both good in the regular season, Lilja/E could be an awesome power line, Lids/Rafi is a superb pairing when Rafi hasn't herniated his back.

Lines I can pull together:

Z-D-Cleary

Franzen-Filppula-Hossa

Both solid, but then I just have Kopecky, Abdelkader, Leino, Helm and Draper. I can make a decent third line out of Abdelkader, Helm and Draper, but I'm stuck for a fourth unless Meech plays as the 12th forward.

That's a crazy drop from lines 1-2 to 3-4.

[Cern 0]

Hmmm...

This is difficult.

NO matter what I try, even if Hudler, Holmstrom, Maltby and Samuelsson go, I can't make the cap work with Hossa at 4M. I'm coming up with some nice lines, but only 11 forwards. Moving a Dman is the only sensible choice, but who? Stuart/Kronwall were both good in the regular season, Lilja/E could be an awesome power line, Lids/Rafi is a superb pairing when Rafi hasn't herniated his back.

Lines I can pull together:

Z-D-Cleary

Franzen-Filppula-Hossa

Both solid, but then I just have Kopecky, Abdelkader, Leino, Helm and Draper. I can make a decent third line out of Abdelkader, Helm and Draper, but I'm stuck for a fourth unless Meech plays as the 12th forward.

That's a crazy drop from lines 1-2 to 3-4.

Wouldn't we still be on the books for Maltby's and Holmstrom's salaries anyway? At the same time, if Lilja's headaches persist he might end up not playing this season.

Edited June 15, 2009 by Cern

[Doc Holiday 0]

Wouldn't we still be on the books for Maltby's and Holmstrom's salaries anyway? At the same time, if Lilja's headaches persist he might end up not playing this season.

If Lilja doesn't play this season you just keep him on LTIR. Salary comes off the books and he is still on the roster if he gets better.

[Matthew Spencer 0]

I'm kinda of on the fenece about it. He did great in reg season but was a no-show in the playoffs. He came here to win a cup but really didn't play like it. Then again he wasn't the only one. Maybe next year.

[thedisappearer 291]

Wouldn't we still be on the books for Maltby's and Holmstrom's salaries anyway? At the same time, if Lilja's headaches persist he might end up not playing this season.

Not Homer's, if memory serves. But def Malts.

[Copenhagen848 58]

Hossa is a beast...plain and simple. He had a bad playoff year...plain and simple. If you can sign Marian Hossa for a long term deal in the $4-$5 million cap hit range, you sign him, unless you are an idiot....plain and simple.

I've been waiting to get a new jersey to finally retire my Yzerman one. If the Hoss signs long term - his will be it.

[Winged_Wheeler 3]

I'm a big fan of Hossa and hope he returns. Sure he wasn't racking up the points expected, but I have a feeling if he stays and we bring in a group of hungry players, we might see our team back in the finals.