Report: Hossa turns down Wings' offer

[titanium2 867]

We do? What would this last season have looked like without Hossa's 40 goals? Then imagine we strip Sammy's goals away too. Maybe even Huds. Do we have enough scoring when we drop 80-90 goals potentially from 3 guys?

Maybe if our defense plays better than last year...

If not.................

What if the Wings had to rely more on their defense to win games in the regular season instead of their high powered offense? Their seed might not have been as high, but maybe they'd have been more prepared for the playoffs.

[soonboomer 31]

Boy you really hate tough guys on the ice don't you?

Just because your boy Hossa won't be coming back doesn't mean you have to hate on the enforcers for it. And yeah, the Wings did have a tougher team in 2008 with Downey, Drake and McCarty on the roster most of the season.

I'll take 4th line players who play hard any day, over some star player who plays hard when he feels like it.

Don't hate tough guys at all (as long as they can actually play the game and contribute to winning). You guys fail to realize that the game has evolved over the years to the point that guys who cant skate or pass the puck are becoming more and more irrelevant to winning. I guess you guys would be more happy if the Wings were more like every other team instead of sticking with what has worked for so long.

[GMRwings1983 8,803]

Dude go back to the "I Hate Hossa" threads.... we know , we know, you dont like him.....geez

I thought this was the "I hate Hossa thread"?

[The Big Red Machine 0]

Tell us how you really feel about North American players, especially enforcers?

First you alluded to them as talentless thughs, now they take stupid penalties.

Did he even say anything about North American players? We get it, you love enforcers. Stop trying to start meaningless arguments about nationality.

[wingsdiehard13 33]

Dude, you still only have 11 forwards.... Leino re-signs at his same salary? Dude, I don't know what your man-love is for Hudler, but let it go... plus you cannot evn bring up Abby, because you only have $600,000 left...

Are you suggesting he deserves a raise?

If so, for what exactly?

[HenryMalredo 2]

Boy you really hate tough guys on the ice don't you?

Just because your boy Hossa won't be coming back doesn't mean you have to hate on the enforcers for it. And yeah, the Wings did have a tougher team in 2008 with Downey, Drake and McCarty on the roster most of the season.

I'll take 4th line players who play hard any day, over some star player who plays hard when he feels like it.

Downey and McCarty were rarely used in the 2008 playoffs. Drake was used more as a checker than a fighter during his time with the Wings. The Wings have several players that, while they don't fight, can play a tough game.

[GMRwings1983 8,803]

Don't hate tough guys at all (as long as they can actually play the game and contribute to winning). You guys fail to realize that the game has evolved over the years to the point that guys who cant skate or pass the puck are becoming more and more irrelevant to winning. I guess you guys would be more happy if the Wings were more like every other team instead of sticking with what has worked for so long.

I don't see how having one tough guy or more players like Helm who play hard on every shift is going to prevent the Wings from having a skilled team.

I don't remember Downey somehow making our skilled players suck, since he didn't even play with skilled players. Guys in the top 6 aren't going to be negatively affected by an enforcer. I'm basing that on how it was with Downey. The team didn't miss a beat with him in the lineup.

I'd rather see a guy like that fight than seeing our other players do it.

[Hockeytown_Ryan 122]

I thought this was the "I hate Hossa thread"?

only when JERKwater USA is representing....

Were gonna lose Huds and Sammy and Hoss and I cant wait to see how this team looks with HOWARD as back up ...

can you say !st round exit after all our vets pour their hearts into the olympics......Mmmmmm cant wait!

[GMRwings1983 8,803]

Did he even say anything about North American players? We get it, you love enforcers. Stop trying to start meaningless arguments about nationality.

He did a few pages ago.

[soonboomer 31]

Tell us how you really feel about North American players, especially enforcers?

First you alluded to them as talentless thughs, now they take stupid penalties.

Don't have a problem with North American players at all, but since the vast majority of guys whose only tie to the league is their ability of fight are North American, I'll let you decide for yourself. You think it's OK to have guys who "don't hurt the team" with their play, regardless if they contribute anything skill-wise at all. I just happen to disagree. (and I think Holland might disagree with you also)

[Hossa4Life 4]

I'm not acting like anything other than happy that we aren't blowing up our team to retain a guy that "slumped" for 20 out of 23 games when he signed with this team for the sole purpose of winning a cup.

It isnt blowing up a team to keep a proven all-star. He had an amazing first season with the team and deserves another shot if he can be fit into the cap.

[ManLuv4Clears 7]

Is there anyone out there who can do anything at all other than take stupid penalties for less than $1mm? If Mac and Downey are out of the picture, perhaps you can shed some light on what great talent we might obtain at such a bargain price.

So now everyone that makes less than $1MM takes stupid penalties?? I'm one for a Dallas Drake type player than can hit, grind, fight, and hold his own on defense. The occasional point won't hurt, that's what fourth liners are for. There are plenty out there that fit this mold. BTW, this is the same Drake that you commended in an earlier post, and the same Drake that made <$1MM last year. I'm sorry it's so confusing for you.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

Is there really a need for you to act like a jackass when someone disagrees with you? Lebda is an important piece to this Wings team considering the injury to Lilja. If Lilja is unable to play, I don't want Meech on the blue line, I want Lebda. Lebda's low salary makes him extremely valuable to the Wings and it would be a mistake to trade him for...what are you trading him for?

When its the idiocy of accepting a 2nd round pick for Jiri Hudler, yes, I tend to act like a jackass out of annoyance. First of all, a team getting a 57 point player for 2.5M at the ripe age of 25 years old is a steal of a contract as it is. Go take a look around the league and see how many guys that score over 55 points are making less than 2.5M and aren't on entry deals. The fact that a GM could sign Hudler for 2.5M AND only pay a 2nd round pick for it would be an embarrassment to the Holland regime.

And just for reference, Jamal Mayers got a 2nd round pick. Chris Gratton got a 2nd round pick. Brian Sutherby got a 2nd round pick. Jim Vandermeer got a 2nd round pick. Hudler has several times over the value that those guys do.

And I agree that Lebda's salary is great, but if it thats the cost of Hudler at 2.5M, so be it.

Also, if Lilja is unable to play, then he qualifies for LTIR, which means the Wings can exceed the cap by 1.25M until he comes back, so they'd have plenty of time to make mid-season changes if thats the case. FYI, the Flyers kept Briere (or was it Gagne?) on LTIR so they could clear some space before he came back. Its doable.

[LeftWinger 5,131]

Are you suggesting he deserves a raise?

If so, for what exactly?

doesn't matter, even at the same salary, there won't be enough money to fill out the forward units. LET HUDLER WALK... Again, if he wants to play at the same pay, fine, if h wants a raise, adios! AND GOD FORBID HOLLAND MATCHES A $2.5 MILLION OFFER!!!

[GMRwings1983 8,803]

only when JERKwater USA is representing....

Were gonna lose Huds and Sammy and Hoss and I cant wait to see how this team looks with HOWARD as back up ...

can you say !st round exit after all our vets pour their hearts into the olympics......Mmmmmm cant wait!

Yeah, but why pick on Jerkwater?

Sammy and Huds will be replaced with other players. After all, Holland is a god, right?

[soonboomer 31]

I don't see how having one tough guy or more players like Helm who play hard on every shift is going to prevent the Wings from having a skilled team.

I don't remember Downey somehow making our skilled players suck, since he didn't even play with skilled players. Guys in the top 6 aren't going to be negatively affected by an enforcer. I'm basing that on how it was with Downey. The team didn't miss a beat with him in the lineup.

I'd rather see a guy like that fight than seeing our other players do it.

I'd hardly call Helm a tough guy or an enforcer. I love his effort and grit, and if he's the type of player you're talking about, we have no argument. But, Downey is a different story, and apparently Holland agrees, because he's gone too.

[Barrie 900]

Hossa turns down Wings' offer

Excellent! We don't need a 4th forward locked up long term.

Thanks Hossa for the one year, good luck with your next team.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

It isnt blowing up a team to keep a proven all-star. He had an amazing first season with the team and deserves another shot if he can be fit into the cap.

Where did you come from? Yes, it is blowing up the team to keep Hossa. Sweet jesus am I glad Holland had the sense not to budge from a $4M offer from Hossa. If half of the folks on here were running the show, Hossa would be signed long-term at 6M per - just so we could keep him - and we'd be pulling a Calgary by playing with a 15-16 man roster.

[gcom007 1,465]

What if the Wings had to rely more on their defense to win games in the regular season instead of their high powered offense? Their seed might not have been as high, but maybe they'd have been more prepared for the playoffs.

I don't think it works like that. I don't think anyone was thinking like that on the Wings. It's not like people were lazy. People just made countless stupid plays. Giveaways galore. Kronwall was frightening more often than not. And it didn't get tremendously better in the playoffs.

Bottom line, losing goals is not a good thing. I've preached this for years: we've only struggled in the playoffs when we struggle to score. We've never had a year in recent memory where we got blown out. We always lose because we struggle to put the puck in the net.

Losing goal scorers is not a good thing. We absolutely will have more struggles next year no matter what, but I'm a little worried (to say the least...) if we lose Huds, Hossa and Sammy.

[soonboomer 31]

So now everyone that makes less than $1MM takes stupid penalties?? I'm one for a Dallas Drake type player than can hit, grind, fight, and hold his own on defense. The occasional point won't hurt, that's what fourth liners are for. There are plenty out there that fit this mold. BTW, this is the same Drake that you commended in an earlier post, and the same Drake that made <$1MM last year. I'm sorry it's so confusing for you.

Care to name a few? The only ones possible at that price are guys in the twilight of their career, cause if they had the qualities that Drake had and were younger, they sure as hell won't sigh for <$1mm.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

Dude, you still only have 11 forwards.... Leino re-signs at his same salary? Dude, I don't know what your man-love is for Hudler, but let it go... plus you cannot evn bring up Abby, because you only have $600,000 left...

Its really hard to debate with you without degrading your intelligence, if you have any. Let me spell it out for you:

Hudler at 2.5, Leino re-signing at the same salary, and trading Lebda, leaves us with 650k to sign a 12th forward, leaving Meech as the 7th and 13th. Happy cupcake?

And I dont have man love for Hudler. I wouldnt mind seeing him traded. Just not at the moronic price you suggest.

[GMRwings1983 8,803]

I don't think it works like that. I don't think anyone was thinking like that on the Wings. It's not like people were lazy. People just made countless stupid plays. Giveaways galore. Kronwall was frightening more often than not. And it didn't get tremendously better in the playoffs.

Bottom line, losing goals is not a good thing. I've preached this for years: we've only struggled in the playoffs when we struggle to score. We've never had a year in recent memory where we got blown out. We always lose because we struggle to put the puck in the net.

Losing goal scorers is not a good thing. We absolutely will have more struggles next year no matter what, but I'm a little worried (to say the least...) if we lose Huds, Hossa and Sammy.

Well, look at it this way, at least we won't be losing any playoff goals with Hossa gone. Ooooooooohhhhhhhhh. That was nasty, GMR.

All right, I'm done for the night. I love you all!!

Edited July 1, 2009 by GMRwings1983

[Detroitboogie 0]

Oh man, what a bummer. Well, time to move on. I hope he goes to the Kings so he never has to worry about losing in the Finals.

[Hossa4Life 4]

Where did you come from? Yes, it is blowing up the team to keep Hossa. Sweet jesus am I glad Holland had the sense not to budge from a $4M offer from Hossa. If half of the folks on here were running the show, Hossa would be signed long-term at 6M per - just so we could keep him - and we'd be pulling a Calgary by playing with a 15-16 man roster.

4-4.5 is a respectable offer for a proven player like hossa. If that report is true, hossa must have waited so long to respond because he thought holland must have been joking. Offering him under 4 mill is a absolute insult. But I agree 6 mil or anything over 5 mil would be way to much for this situation. We still have great young players that could fill the role of our 4th liners. You just seem to be one of the many Hossa Haters.

Edited July 1, 2009 by Hossa4Life

[Vladifan 680]

Sporting News is saying the same thing but for all I know they're part of the same media outlet. I can't open the link, and so far I've checked all sources and nobody else is saying it. We can hope...