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Hossa To Wings
by Paul on 07/02/08 at 11:28 AM ET
Comments (52)
via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,
The Penguins have lost free-agent right winger Marian Hossa to Detroit.
Team officials are believed to have been informed this morning that he will not re-sign.
Terms of Hossa’s contract were not immediately known, but the Red Wings are believed to have been offering a shorter-term contract than most other clubs.
update 12:37pm, on NHL Live, per TSN, 1 year 7.4M.
update 12:38pm, Done deal!
Update 12:50pm (Alanah): Link to story at TSN
Update 12:50pm (Alanah): Just want to say thanks to the boys at NHL Live on the NHL Network for this!
Filed in: NHL Teams, Detroit Red Wings | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: free+agents, marian+hossa,
Comments
What.
No freaking way, not with that HUGE offer from Edmonton floating around. How could he not take that and run to the bank laughing like a madman?
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/02/08 at 11:33 AM ET
YYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYY!!!!!
Kenny we love you, <tear>
Posted by IceBuddha from San Diego on 07/02/08 at 11:36 AM ET
If true, it’s a slap in the face to the Penguins. Will make Detroit even tougher. wow.
Posted by penguinsfan on 07/02/08 at 11:37 AM ET
@Baroque—because winning is priceless. All these tools who take 5-10% more money to play for losing teams blow my mind.
If I’m Hossa I play my cards the same way.
1. Take a host of offers from desperate teams willing to vastly overpay.
2. Present this pool to the top 5 teams in the league with cap space and offer them a 10-15% discount for a spot on their roster.
3. Sign for $7+ mil per and fill your fingers with rings.
Posted by Derek from Cloud9 Sports on 07/02/08 at 11:40 AM ET
Someone pinch me. How on earth could we nab Hossa at that price when teams were definitely offering probably upwards of 8 mil+ over many years?
The dude must be really convinced we’re repeating as champs.
Posted by Huss from Sarasota, FL on 07/02/08 at 11:42 AM ET
Is Dr. Turk around?
I got one word for you.
(Hossa)
Posted by Gabriel from San Diego, CA on 07/02/08 at 11:42 AM ET
One year, $7.4 million - that’s it?
WOW.
He must really want to run at a Cup and then make his money elsewhere - like the “get out of debt job” you take immediately after college which you hate, but it pays off the student loans and lets you do something you like more after a few years.
(Also, I’m laughing at the fact that I just referred to $7,400,000 with the phrase “that’s it?”)
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/02/08 at 11:43 AM ET
this is stunning. really does not make sense. yeah it’s a better get than Sundin or Rolston, but at what Freaking Price.
Zetterberg has been severely underpaid thanks to his lockout contract of 4 years at $2.7. He will need to be compensated generously to at least $7-8Million. With Lids at $7, Rafi at $6, Dats at $7, Zetts soon to be $7-10M, how the Heck do you afford Hossa unless he is willing to take under his free market value for the benefit of instant Stanley Cup contender?
this almost does not even make sense.
and don’t forget the RFA Sweepstakes is going to put Val Fillpula at $3.5 or so. This cannot all work, but tremendous “get” for Detroit if it fits somehow.
Posted by RWBill from the Land of 12 in 12. on 07/02/08 at 11:43 AM ET
Wow, unless he didn’t give Pittsburgh a chance to match, it seems like they would have been able to do the same deal since Malkin’s big contract won’t kick in for another year anyways. What it really says is that Hossa feels he can win with Detroit, and not with the Pens. Best wishes to a great player, but I hope the Pens prove him wrong.
Posted by penguinsfan on 07/02/08 at 11:43 AM ET
Holy Crap.
This is almost enough to force me into becoming a Wings fan.
Posted by Karina on 07/02/08 at 11:43 AM ET
Thank god he is in the West and not Montreal or NY. The Eastern Conference will sux but hey… the Bruins might make the playoffs now. Now send Sundin to Vancouver!
Posted by kevin from boston on 07/02/08 at 11:44 AM ET
Hokey smokes. I think this qualifies as a giant splash and a left field deal.
There was lots of hoping, but I dont think anyone saw this comming.
Posted by Nate A from Detroit-ish on 07/02/08 at 11:44 AM ET
BIll, it’s just one year so unless he takes s big discount next year, he’ll be gone so that we can keep Z, Franzen, Hudler etc..
I’ll be Z is thrilled!
Can I get a REPEAT from the crowd!!
Posted by Osrt on 07/02/08 at 11:48 AM ET
@ RWBill -
It has the possibility of working because it’s only a one year deal. The extensions for Zetterberg and Franzen and Hudler can be signed this summer, but won’t kick in until next year.
That was why Sundin was a possible, because he’d likely only want a one-year deal, and short-term works.
He’s young enough that he could nail down a long-term deal without trouble - but also obviously young enough to take a chance on a one-year deal, and no matter what happens hockey-wise (barring injury, etc.) he will still be able to cash in as a free agent next summer.
Ballsy on his part, because he is taking a chance on a short deal, but WOW.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/02/08 at 11:49 AM ET
Somebody get Pete at Yzerman Is God on the spreadsheets - the one concern I have is fitting in Wally for next year. Need to keep him around for the post-Hossa era. 
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/02/08 at 11:50 AM ET
First Conk, then Hossa. Some Pens fan the other day said players should be willing to give them a hometown discount for the privilege of playing in Pittsburgh. Apparently the players don’t see it that way.
Posted by RWBill from the Land of 12 in 12. on 07/02/08 at 11:51 AM ET
Yeah I see the one year deal part now.
Would be sweet if after next year. Hmmm. The Cap would have to go up A LOT to keep Franzen, Hossa, Fillpula, and Zetts.
Something will give next year, but hey, that’s 12 months away!!
Enjoy the ride. Thanks Kenny (tick-tock)!! Thanks Mr. I !!!
Posted by RWBill from the Land of 12 in 12. on 07/02/08 at 11:55 AM ET
I think it’s nice when players take “hometown discounts,” but I don’t expect it.
This deal from Hossa is more like a “mercenary discount.”
Just wow.
(And I don’t mean that in a bad way - I’m pretty mercenary myself.)
Okay, so iirc this is what Holland was looking for:
1. Re-sign Stuart or get another defenseman.
2. Find an affordable veteran backup goaltender.
3. Maybe get a forward on a short-term deal.
Three for three, according to my math.
WOW.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/02/08 at 11:56 AM ET
Holy cow, I’ve been wanting Hossa in Detroit for a few years now. I never thought it would be possible. Oh wowowowowowow!
Posted by hockeychic from Denver, CO on 07/02/08 at 11:57 AM ET
1 year shows how greedy Ho$$a actually is. c’mon. He’s afraid to make a commitment.
God, I hate Team Ikea..
From Pensblog comments section. How is he greedy for forgoeing millions and security for a single year shot.
I like the Team Ikea thing though; We are indeed beautiful on a budget and will continue to dominate.
BWWAHHAHAHHAHAHAH
Posted by Osrt on 07/02/08 at 12:01 PM ET
hand to god, Ken Holland is the Top GM the league has seen in a while, and they should thank him for continuously icing championship teams, and then finding ways to improve upon them, thereby making the NHL’s on-ice product even better.
sigh ... it’s good to be a wings’ fan.
Posted by ColdWar on 07/02/08 at 12:01 PM ET
I… did not see this one coming. Unbelievable. I didn’t know DET was even legitimately in the hunt and sweepstakes for Hossa.
Posted by Primis on 07/02/08 at 12:02 PM ET
CHRISTMAS IN JULY!
For only one year we commit $7 million to the best and most compatible superstar on the free agent market. Ken Holland must be the president of the Michigan chapter of Mensa.
Zetteberg - Datsyuk - Hossa
Franzen - Filpulla - Holmstrom
are two of the best scoring lines in the league now, however you arrange them. Add to the mix Lidstrom, Rafalski, Stuart, and Kronwall on defence as the best top 4 on any team in the league and we are running deep.
And I forgot to mention we got a reliable backup netminder in Conklin.
The 2008-2009 NHL season cannot start fast enough.
LET’S GO RED WINGS!
Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 07/02/08 at 12:04 PM ET
I didn’t know DET was even legitimately in the hunt and sweepstakes for Hossa.
I don’t think anyone thought it was legit - the assumption was that he would sign a contract for many years, and everybody and their dog knew that Detroit had no room past the upcoming season. That was why Sundin was a viable option.
I would love to know how the conversations went - wonder if it was remotely possibly that Hossa’s agent approached the Wings first to let the team know that he wouldn’t neccessarily need to have a multi-year deal, so what could they do for a one-year salary?
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/02/08 at 12:06 PM ET
I’m astonished! A-freakin-STONISHED!!!
the one concern I have is fitting in Wally for next year.
We’re talking Filppula, right? I share your concern. The folks at nhlscap.com now have their data posted at hockeybuzz, but if 7.4 is the correct number for Hossa, they show just over 2.5 cap space remaining for RFAs Fil, Howard, Quincey, Oulahen, and Ericsson. Looks like now is a good time for another GM to step in with an offer sheet for Fil, doesn’t it?
Some Pens fan the other day said players should be willing to give them a hometown discount for the privilege of playing in Pittsburgh. Apparently the players don’t see it that way.
Lots more leaving the Pens than I ever thought would happen. I wonder why. The coach, maybe?
Posted by BobTheZee on 07/02/08 at 12:07 PM ET
The first line is the same, VooX.
Hossa is our second line winger.
That’s right.
Second line winger. And if Franzen proves last year wasn’t a fluke, game over.
Posted by Huss from Sarasota, FL on 07/02/08 at 12:07 PM ET
Brilliant, abbolootly brilliant!
Posted by Rumbear from Sandy Eggo on 07/02/08 at 12:08 PM ET
Three for three, according to my math.
WOW.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/02 at 12:56 PM
Right on the money, this easily exceeded expectations but at a fair $$$. But what the heck they won the cup with about the #16 payroll, so they had room.
Still, stunning.
Posted by RWBill from the Land of 12 in 12. on 07/02/08 at 12:17 PM ET
I would love to know how the conversations went - wonder if it was remotely possibly that Hossa’s agent approached the Wings first to let the team know that he wouldn’t neccessarily need to have a multi-year deal, so what could they do for a one-year salary?
I too wonder how such things come to be.
I hope we cover Fil’s posterior with some magic capology somehow. I like that kid.
Posted by MOWingsFan19 from KC MO on 07/02/08 at 12:17 PM ET
Wow.
But does this trigger offer sheets for Filppula?
I don’t know what the real numbers are, but the cap space Kenny said would prevent offer sheets now appears to be gone. 
Posted by YzermanZetterberg on 07/02/08 at 12:17 PM ET
We are now the Chakka Khan of the NHL. Stacked on the front and back.
LOL. Awesomeness!
And a tribute to you Charlie’s friends.
Posted by Osrt on 07/02/08 at 12:18 PM ET
whoops…wrong thread…sorry regular readers, that was meant only for the superdupereliteplatinum members (i.e. Wing Fans).
Posted by Osrt on 07/02/08 at 12:19 PM ET
RFA’s similar to ValFill have been going $3.5Mill. Some other team might drop a 4 spot on him that the Wings could not match. I like Val a lot too, if he can hold on one more year. Who knows what possibilities next year will bring.
Posted by RWBill from the Land of 12 in 12. on 07/02/08 at 12:26 PM ET
hey Paul—kudos to you
—-Update 1:08 PM: Kukla’s Korner broke the story at 12:28, per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Dave Molinari:
Posted by howie young on 07/02/08 at 12:28 PM ET
Makes sense when you think about it being a one-year deal. It gives him a great shot to win the Cup, without sacrificing having another shot at FA next year that will, even if he’s not as productive, yield a big-time, long-term contract from another club, if he so chooses.
Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 07/02/08 at 12:36 PM ET
RFA’s similar to ValFill have been going $3.5Mill. Some other team might drop a 4 spot on him that the Wings could not match.
If I understand correctly, the team can go over the cap up to 10% (correct percentage?) now as long as they are under the cap when the season starts. So they could still match a 4 mil offer for Fil—and even more—but they’d then have some dumping to do by October. Assuming that Fil signs an offer sheet in the first place.
Posted by BobTheZee on 07/02/08 at 12:38 PM ET
Even if Filpulla is given a large RFA contract - anything over $2.6 million requires the compensation of a first-round draft pick.
I don’t know if someone will offer like Edmonton, but with this decent new player already on his way in from Finland (anybody got the name), you have to think the Wings would take the first round pick and let him go.
Anything less and the Wings will match.
I’ll bet Filpulla signs a 3-4 year deal with the Wings for about $2.0 - $2.5 million per.
Posted by CJBear71 from Atlanta, GA on 07/02/08 at 12:39 PM ET
We’re talking Filppula, right? I share your concern.
Yes - Pete at Yzerman is God has started calling him Wally because Valterri is Finnish for Walter, and I like it.
The other GMs will be calculating, no doubt. I hope Holland has either (1) decided that Filpulla will not be especially difficult to sign, so isn’t worried about him accepting an offer sheet, or (2) decided that Filpulla will be nearly impossible to sign, thus daring another GM to give him an offer sheet and take the draft picks.
I do not want to lose Wally. I like the kid! :(
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/02/08 at 12:40 PM ET
Good news - this means the Wings won’t sign Bertuzzi, yes?
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/02/08 at 12:41 PM ET
I do not want to lose Wally. I like the kid! :(
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/02 at 01:40 PM
Yup me too. Hang on 1 year and who knows what Cap magic might be possible.
I forgot about the other Fin coming (you know, the Finnish Player of the Year), Holy Crap!
Still need someone ready to Bust someone’s Balls if they start cheap shotting our guys (tootoo, now CBJ getting tougher, StL doesn’t like us)
Posted by RWBill from the Land of 12 in 12. on 07/02/08 at 12:47 PM ET
Good news - this means the Wings won’t sign Bertuzzi, yes? smile
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/02 at 01:41 PM
Jebus, ROFLMAO. You guys kill me.
Posted by RWBill from the Land of 12 in 12. on 07/02/08 at 12:48 PM ET
RFA’s similar to ValFill have been going $3.5Mill. Some other team might drop a 4 spot on him that the Wings could not match. I like Val a lot too, if he can hold on one more year. Who knows what possibilities next year will bring.
Somebody on another board suggested that now that Hossa is signed, Kenny can say to Flip, “Hey, look who’s (maybe) gonna be on your line!”.
Would work for me if I were The Kid!
Posted by Vladifan from Central Texas on 07/02/08 at 12:49 PM ET
Alanah - NHL Live did the same KK screenshot for the Sean Avery deal. Yay! :D
Posted by Alex on 07/02/08 at 12:49 PM ET
Cheers to Paul and Alanah for breaking the story.
I hope that Holland’s on the phone to Valtteri Filppula’s agent today to lock him up before he’s swiped via a RFA offer sheet.
Posted by George Malik from South Lyon, MI on 07/02/08 at 12:50 PM ET
I hope that Holland’s on the phone to Valtteri Filppula’s agent right freakin’ now to lock him up before he’s swiped via a RFA offer sheet.
Fixed.
Posted by BobTheZee on 07/02/08 at 12:53 PM ET
Joy doesn’t begin to describe how I feel.
I see 2-way contracts for Cheli, Mac, Downey. Maybe trade Samuelson away for a draft pick…
Posted by Hippy Dave from Portland by way of Detroit on 07/02/08 at 02:04 PM ET
I doubt filpula goes anywhere he too will take a discount 2.5 -3 max deal to stay in detroit. Don’t you get it people to take $500,000 less a year to play in detroit is what 99% of the league would do. It’s hockeytown and stanley cups rain in Detroit sorry to Edmonton who had their one moment 20 years ago , minnesota wild who tried to use gaborik to get Hossa and pittsburgh the big pretenders who came in 2nd place and couldn’t get hossa to stay but r they for real $49 mill for 7 years when a $80-90 mill contract was out there ? Come on ..oh and thanks for Conklin too ...now i just cant wait for crosby and malkin to become available because you know they will go to detroit to…hey hey HOCKEYTOWN!
Posted by wings09 from detroit on 07/11/08 at 09:49 AM ET
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That is all…
Posted by Dave on 07/02/08 at 11:31 AM ET