Hossa For 12 Years
Marian Hossa signed with the Blackhawks yesterday for 12 years. The first thing that came to my mind was, “isn’t he like 30?” Well, he isn’t “like” 30, he is 30. This means that he is under contract until he is 42. That’s interesting that Chicago thinks he will be around that long. On the other hand, it may be that the NHL has something that I don’t know about that makes this 12 year idea something that will never actually happens. If someone knows more about this, let us know. In any case, here are a few Hossa gems from SI.com:
“Now I don’t have to worry about dealing with it year-to-year. I’m set for 12 years. That will make it easier and I can focus on hockey,” Hossa said.
There’s no reason to bash the guy for this. It makes sense. As a Wings fan, part of me wanted him back, but I realized it was a long shot. Why? Mr. Hossa explains…
“I had a great time in Detroit. … But with today’s economy and the salary cap, it’s really hard to sign star players,” Hossa said.
Thanks for clearing that up Marian. Anyone else find that comment a little snooty? Yeah, I used that word. I feel like he’s just saying “I am an amazing player so it’s tough to sign me.” It’s just that quotes like that are usually reserved for GMs or even agents, but the players themselves? Star players are supposed to show up when the pressure is on, unlike what Hossa did in the finals this year.
“Somebody just couldn’t be able to sign and I guess that was me,”
Well, it was your decision. I know he’s trying to say the right things, but just be honest. If you really wanted to stay in Detroit, you could’ve taken less money. Just say that Chicago gave you a great offer, not that it was the Wing’s GM’s fault for not being able to sign you, the almighty Hossa.
The Blackhawks believe Hossa is the difference maker that get them to the finals and bring a Stanley Cup back to Chicago for the first time since 1961.
Well, he’s failed at that for two seasons (Bazing!) so you guys are most likely looking at a drought that extends through 2020. That’s 60 years! Ouch, sorry Chicago.
Chicago Blackhawks sign Marian Hossa to 12-year deal [SI.com]
Red Wings Take On New Role
For the past 10 years, Wings fans would agree that win or lose, the team seems to dominate every game. It also seems that Detroit runs into hot goalies year in and year out, outshoot their opponents, yet still find ways to lose. This could be attributed to many things, but what matters is that the Penguins have changed this perception for the defending Stanley Cup Champions. Read more
NBA Not To Be Outdone By NHL
Everyone was praising the NHL Playoffs for giving the fans what was needed. The round that just ended gave us all three great game sevens (okay, just two) to watch. To be perfectly honest, I lost touch a little bit with the NBA because I was so intrigued with the NHL. So, the Association decided to give it’s fans two game sevens of it’s own. All of a sudden we seem to be in a golden era of sports! Let me explain to you what I mean. Read more
Alex the “Great” is gone, needs some work
This couldn’t make me happier. I’m not even a big hockey fan (just an enormous sports fan in general obviously), and I’m exstatic that Alexander Ovechkin is out of the playoffs. This guy bothers me in the same way Lebron James bothers me. Both have been given a crown so early in their careers, and neither has done anything in the post season yet. They are like the same guy in different sports…both tremendous individual players but can’t get it done when it counts. Thus far, Ovechkin could actually learn a few things from Lebron. Read more
Game 7 Preview: Penguins @ Capitals
The NHL has been praying for this game for a couple of years now. The league has a good reason for it too. The two names that most people relate to the NHL right now have been going face to face. Earlier last week, we were all worried that there would be a sweep. Then, the Penguins escaped game 3 with a win. All of a sudden we had a great series in our midst. Both playing scoring a hat trick in the same game didn’t hurt the passion and drama, and now we embark on the game 7 we have been waiting for. Read more
Game 7 Preview: Hurricanes @ Bruins
Is it possible? Well, anything is possible. The funny thing about the records of “no team has done this” and “no team has done that” are pretty pointless when it comes down to that last game. This is no more true than Thursday night when Boston attempts to come back from 3-1 to win the series and move on to the Eastern Conference Finals. Everything that has already happened is out the window. It doesn’t matter anymore, and, simply put, the Hurricanes better knock and memories out of their head. Read more
Game 7 Preview: Ducks @ Wings
Oh yes, we are lucky enough to be blessed by a tri-fecta of game 7s in the next two days. The NHL Playoffs have provided plenty of drama so far, yet nothing quite tickles my fancy like a game 7. The intensity, the heart-stopping plays, and of course the fights. Yes, there will be fights, no doubt. On that note, it segues perfectly into the first game to preview since the series decided to take an intense turn last night at about 1am et. Read more
NHL Continues To Screw Up
By now you probably know that I love the NHL Playoffs. I love the NHL. What I don’t love is the amount of times that the NHL continues to shoot itself in the foot. Yesterday was game 5 between the Red Wings and Duck. As I turned on the TV at 4ct to see what the game was on I was left with Indy Time Trials on Versus, and the golf on NBC. So, where is this game you ask? They decide to throw it on the not so often known about NHL Network. It kind of makes the hockey fan in me want to scream! Read more
Penguins Save NHL’s Dream
It was supposed to be a great matchup. The series was supposed to be the longest most intense series of the playoffs. Then, the Washington Capitals decided win both games at home, and the NHL front office started to feel their heart beating faster. Rumors were swirling about a sweep. The puck dropped on game 3 last night and the NHL got saved. The Penguins were able to pull out a hard fought game about nine minutes into the overtime session. Now, the fans have a series to watch. Read more
Red Wings Robbed By Intent
So, the rule seriously deals with what we meant to do? Last night at around midnight my time, I thought things were decided by what actually happened, but, instead, it seems that we make sure we understand what we were trying to do. Before I go further, I’ll throw the disclaimer that I am a Wings fan so the phantom whistle effected be on a more personal level than the “unbiased” journalists out there. Still, it is tough for me to be “unbiased” when there is either a call this important or when there is a rule this odd! Read more
NHL Gets It Right In Overtime
As the Wings and Ducks battled for over 100 minutes yesterday it hit me that there is something special about the NHL playoffs that had not crossed my mind before today. The refs do everything possible not to determine the outcome. With all the officiating issues we find in other sports, it seems that the refs in the NHL do a pretty solid job. Of course, my team was on the losing end of yesterday’s epic game, but it felt right, if that makes any sense.
Teams Like Anaheim Let Us Enjoy NHL Playoffs
The Anaheim (Mighty) Ducks decided to pull of the big upset last night over the number 1 overall team in the NHL. A convincing 4-1 victory in game 6 sealed the deal. So, what do we take from this series? It is just another example of the excitement of the NHL Playoffs. The crazy thing about this series is that I was listening to the radio before it started and the people were picking the Ducks! What 8 seed has ever been picked to win a series? A better question is in what sport does this actually happen?
People always complain that too many teams are let into the playoffs in the NHL and NBA. They may have a point some of the time. The other major sports, football and baseball, don’t let as many teams in, and the playoffs are exciting from start to finish. On the other hand, the NBA lets us watch the Cavs beat up on Detroit (tear) and the Lakers dispatch of the Utah. What was the point of those series’? Well, in the NHL you rarely have those things happen. Sure, there were some sweeps in this playoffs, but everybody KNEW the Cavs would sweep the Pistons. People were actually picking the Blue Jackets to beat the “struggling” Red Wings and look what happened. The point is that the outcomes are not known from the get go.
I’ll get off my soapbox now for the rest of the NHL playoffs, it is just too bad people don’t realize how big of a deal this is. If the Jazz took out the Lakers we would never hear the end of it on ESPN. An eight seed beats the best team in the NHL, and it may be mentioned for a minute. Good for the Ducks! Just beware that you have a sleeping giant awaiting you in round two.
