LOGIN | REGISTER | RSS FEEDS

Abel to Yzerman

Only 48 More Tuesdays Without The Cup…Better Hurry Hoss

by IwoCPO on 06/30/09 at 11:55 AM ET
Comments (0)

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.

Filed in: | Abel to Yzerman | Permalink
 

Comments

Be the first to comment.

Add a Comment

Please limit embedded image or media size to 575 pixels wide.

Add your own avatar by joining Kukla's Korner, or logging in and uploading one in your member control panel.

Captchas bug you? Join KK or log in and you won't have to bother.

Most Recent Blog Posts

About Abel to Yzerman

Welcome to Abel to Yzerman, a Red Wing blog since 1977.  No other site on the internet has better-researched, fact-laden and better prepared discussions than A2Y.  Re-phrase: we do little research, find facts and stats highly overrated and claim little to no preparation.  There are 19 readers of A2Y. No more, no less. All of them, except maybe one, are juvenile in nature.  Reminding them of that in the comment section will only encourage them to prove that. Your suggestions and critiques are welcome: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Get the top online sports betting bonuses available to sports betters!