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Only 48 More Tuesdays Without The Cup…Better Hurry Hoss

The longer this thing with Marian Hossa drags on, the greater the chance that the Hasek may burn to the ground.  Angry readers.  Frustrated and irritable. Sniping and spitting.  I blame myself.  I don’t give you guys fodder for conversation and all of a sudden the knives come out. 

So we’ll address that because we have to.  We must.  Break time is over. Ikea sucked.

Hossa.  It’s not a secret that I believe our hero Tick Tock Kenny Holland is going to make this happen.  I still believe, although not as strongly as I did a few weeks ago, that come 1 July Marian Hossa is going to be a Red Wing for life.  I give credit to Holland for this not so much due to his negotiating abilities, but for what he’s helped build.  Ken Holland can not budge.  He can get creative with term and he can have his cap geniuses working OT to figure out incentives and probably some under the table deals that don’t have to be seen by Gary’s contract nazi’s.  But, if Marian Hossa stays it’s not going to be due to the contract he signs, but rather the environment he doesn’t want to leave.

Now the question that’s causing the angst among you.  Is keeping Marian Hossa what’s best for the Wings?

I believe it is, but I also think that if he’s allowed to walk…that wouldn’t be the end of the world.  If Hossa walks I suppose that means Hudler stays.  I believe Samuelsson’s gone regardless because this is his one chance for the big cash. And you know somebody’s gonna pay it.  We talk about Hossa going to LA? (And when we discussed it earlier we were talking about the Wings trading his rights, not the player himself.  And if those rights are dealt, the player still has the right to negotiate a deal or walk.)  Now I could see Samuelsson going to LA.  3 mil/year for three?  I just don’t see him staying in Detroit.

Hudler would though.  Hossa leaves, Hudler stays.  And another UFA to the tune of Laperierre, or Knuble (who says he wants to stay in Philly), or Ellis. Some of you have mentioned Steve Sullivan?

No. I don’t like the guy and never have.  I respect that he came back from a huge absence but I believe he’s a dick and don’t want him in red and white.  I didn’t just invent that either.  Take that how you want. 

Laperierre is the guy I’d go after if Hossa leaves.  The firepower you lose in watching Hoss go is compensated for by the hunger and feistiness of a guy like Laperierre.  Is it an equal trade off?

Well, considering the sobs you’d hear from the Dive bloggers when their hero “Lappy” signs with the enemy? That in itself would be warming.  And, listen.  If Laperierre does come here? He’s not “Lappy” anymore. That’s for exclamation point users.  To us he’ll be something cool like…“Lap Dance.” 

Back to reality. Hossa is a top ten talent.  In some areas, top five.  If you think that losing him and gaining anyone else who’s out there is going to be an even trade? You’re wrong.

And while I understand where people don’t want to break up the Wings, to see them lose as many as 4 forwards?  Kopecky and Sammy?  See you. We lose them and no one mentions their name after 1 November.  We lose Hudler and that stings because he’s a favorite of ours and his teammates.

I don’t understand those who wish, who demand, to see Hossa leave because of his performance in the Final or throughout the playoffs.  Do we say the same about Datsyuk?  Did we demand his departure after 2006?  He was signed for a lot more money than Hossa will be (if he stays) and he’d done nothing in the playoffs up to 2007 when Steve Yzerman stepped in and strongly recommended the Wings get the deal done, which they did of course.

I believe, based on nothing really, that Hossa’s performance as a Wing should not be judged soley on his playoff.  I think he was hurt and I also think playing Pittsburgh affected his noggin more than any of us understand.  I also think he’ll be starving for a Cup if he returns.  If he doesn’t and if he goes anywhere else, and I mean anywhere, he’s not winning a Cup. Because none of the three or four other contenders out there can afford to sign him.

Holland offered him 4/year over ten.  As Captain Polonich pointed out, that’s a tremendous pay cut.  Huge compared to what he could get elsewhere.  But if he does sign with the Wings? He deserves some serious credit for doing so.  Just the fact that he’s still deciding says a lot about the guy in my opinion. 

Here’s the only thing we know for sure:  Ken Holland is going to do the right thing for the Detroit Red Wings.  It’s why JJ in Kansas isn’t worried. It’s why we can view this with an almost amused (some would say “bemused”...I don’t use that word) stance; because we know for a fact that whatever happens, Tick Tock is going to guarantee an ELITE team takes the ice in Traverse City.  That is a fact and we all know it, with or without Hossa.

So, yeah. I still think Hossa’s gonna sign with Detroit. I think that because I don’t believe he wants to leave and I think that ten-year deal is something he’s always wanted.  I think that would be the best thing for the Wings, but not a kick to the sack if he decides to jet. Whatever he decides?  We win.  We either retain a guy who….blah, blah, blah. I’m frigging tired of talking about this.  I just wrote like 19 paragraphs about the same shit we’ve been discussing for a year. 

He stays. He goes. Whatever.  They’re still the Wings. And they still only have 48 more Tuesdays until the Cup comes home.

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Marian Hossa, on Detroit, is a complementary player but not a cornerstone.  Holland has offered him a contract commensurate with that status, but not with that of a star player.  He can get star player money from another team.

I wish him luck and hope he finds success, however he chooses to define it (just not against the Wings).  No hard feelings - he took a chance, and it didn’t work out, unfortunately.  Apparently time for both sides to move on.

********

Off topic: How about that Heatley to Edmonton stuff?  The thread at Lowetide is crazy already - I think he will be hated in Edmonton no matter what he decides at this point.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/01/09 at 06:01 AM ET

Avatar

Off topic: How about that Heatley to Edmonton stuff? The thread at Lowetide is crazy already - I think he will be hated in Edmonton no matter what he decides at this point.

At the rate Heatley’s digging his own grave, we could hold a funeral service for him very shortly. “Here lies the decimated corpse of Dany Heatley’s career. It started off well enough until an ill-advised car ride…”

Someone should send him a copy of How to Win Friends and Influence People. It may not win him a big contract, but at least it’ll save him from the torch and pitchfork carrying mobs. Well, maybe; Oilers fans can really carry a grudge (and against Pronger it was hilarious).

Posted by Aphaea from Pennsylvania on 07/01/09 at 06:27 AM ET

TeamDub's avatar

Hossa to Chicago - per a dream (nightmare) I had last night.

Posted by TeamDub from The gratch. on 07/01/09 at 06:38 AM ET

Avatar

Hossa to Chicago

Another defenseman to cover for Campbell’s mistakes would be better, but Hossa backchecks better than Brian “I would do it again” Campbell plays defense.

Posted by Aphaea from Pennsylvania on 07/01/09 at 06:45 AM ET

Avatar

How about that Heatley to Edmonton stuff?

Yeah, what the hell is that?  Yesterday afternoon I was reading it was a done deal with the Rangers, then there were rumblings about Edmonton, then it was DONE with Edmonton and an hour later it was dead?  What the hell?

Posted by Garth on 07/01/09 at 10:06 AM ET

SYF's avatar

You’re a joke dude. Where was hoss this year against the pens? where was he all playoffs? 6 goals all scored in just 3 games. weak shit for someone who is supposed to be a pure goal scorer. He was nowhere to be found on the scoresheet against the pens and that’s what matters in the finals. Hoss is a choke artist and a bad decision maker, both have been proven while in a red wings uniform and during game 6 last year, you claimed he was “most dangerous” cause of that weak ass look at the net with mere seconds left on the clock, crosby and/or malkin would have buried it.  So say you’re good byes to good ‘ole marion cuz by this time tomorrow he’ll be someone else’s problem. you’re beat

Posted by someguy66 from the real city of champions on 07/01/09 at 12:55 AM ET

F*ck you, man.  As a Wings fan, I’m entitled to a little optimism and second chances because Wings gave it to Darren McCarty and he responded well.  Cleary responded well.  Mikael Samuelsson responded well.  Jiri Hudler had the reputation of being a loafer in the Czech superleagues and he had a complete 180-degree turnaround when he joined the Wings.

I really don’t give a crap about YOUR animosity towards Hossa.  If he’s gone, fine.  Best of luck to him - just not against the Wings and I hope scores ten thousand hattricks against the Pens for the rest of his life.  Just for you.

Posted by SYF from a "Bron-Y-Aur Stomp" on 07/01/09 at 12:59 PM ET

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