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Post by The Hockey Hitman on Mar 23, 2009 12:11:08 GMT -5
"To tell you the truth, I want to sign somewhere and retire there. I don't want to move around any more. I'm 30. I don't know how long I'm going to play, but I am looking for a long-term deal. To be able to stay as a Red Wing, I am prepared to take less money, but a fair deal, so both sides are happy. That's what I'm looking for. I know if I go somewhere else, I could have more, but I'm willing to take less to stay here. Hopefully things work out."
- Detroit's Marian Hossa who is set to become a free agent July 1. ______________________________________________________
I'm willing to take bets that Hossa will not re-sign with Detroit.
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Post by fukufuji on Mar 23, 2009 12:31:17 GMT -5
Some players are willing to take less pay to play in detroit but I am with you. I would be suprized to see Hossa as a wing next year. I never underestimate illitch and holland they make their team like family which can make money less important for some. Winning is a big draw too.
I think in the end he will get offered so much more money to go somewhere else it will be a hard choice.
I am still shocked to see him on the wings this year. That was an amazing turn of events for Detroit and a horrible fate for Pens.
It will be amazing to maybe see guys like Hossa as FA, I think proponents of the cap system will be happy this off season.
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Post by Zoom Waffles on Mar 23, 2009 16:42:18 GMT -5
detroit offers him 5.5 for 3 years... he turns it down to see what he gets on the market. someone (edmonton?) offers him a front-loaded contract for 5 years averaging 6.8... he takes it.
that's my prediction.
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Post by Shredded Red on Mar 23, 2009 18:13:27 GMT -5
Detroits got a rough summer ahead of them. Their big guys are locked down (Zetts, Datsyuk, Lidstrom) but they've got Hossa, Franzen, and Hudler (and possibly Samuelson and Fillipula, but don't quote me on that). I'm not sure what Illitch is going to do. My guess is Detroit is going to be moving some defensemen to clear some cap space because the Wings have a few young D-men they could bring up. I think they'll keep Kronwall, Rafalski, and Lidstrom but I don't think the rest are safe. I wouldn't be surprised if Conklin is a gonner as well.
But Illitch and Holland are like magicians when it comes to putting a team together. I really thought the Wings would crumble after the salary cap was put into place and they've really put together teams that are just as solid, if not more solid than pre-salary cap. I think part of the draw is it's the most successful franchise in any sport right now....and winning and having a shot every season at the cup has to be worth losing a couple million a year.
Think of Hossa's situation. He goes to a team like Edmonton for more money and toils away maybe for one cup, or even one chance at the cup in the next 8 years....but as of right now the odds wouldn't be in his favor. Or he takes less money and has a shot every single year for at least the next 5 seasons. How much money can one player possibly need? Don't get me wrong, I never underestimate the Russian players quest for high salaries in particular....but if he leaves, he won't go to a contender because they'll only be able to offer him a short term high salary contract....or the same sort of deal the Wings would be able to offer long term. So he might as well stay with the Wings.
Why stay with the Wings? I don't know what goes on in the locker room or behind the scenes in Detroit, but they really know how to make a team all warm and fuzzy. Average players come to Detroit and play like all stars (Samuelson), veterans stay with the team for next to nothing (Chelio's, Maltby, Osgood) good players become even better (Rafalski, Stuart), and they seem to have this never ending fountain of youth coming out of nowhere all the time (Franzen, Hudler). It's like they run a spa retreat for a hockey team. After the little journey Hossa has been on lately I would not be surprised to see Hossa stay in Detroit just because he knows Detroit won't deal him down the road unless he asks to be traded (I can't think of a big name player Detroit has traded or let go without them wanting to go in the last decade!) In a way Detroit may be the only team in the league that is offering job security right now and the promise of success.
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Post by Zoom Waffles on Mar 23, 2009 19:34:30 GMT -5
there's a lot to be said for how nice it is to stay in one place, or to play in a great place... but it can't be easy to accept a 2.5 million dollar pay cut. think of your children. and your children's children. you could support like 3 generations with that much money.
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Post by fukufuji on Mar 24, 2009 8:16:48 GMT -5
If Hossa stays a wing those are all well dictated reasons he would. If you've ever seen those forbes magazine top 50 companies to work for where Google and Microsoft are always at the top. I think the wings are the #1 best place to work for a hockey player. I think Hossa is one of the more extreem cases to come along in a while becuase if he takes a pay cut to stay that pay cut could be potentailly deep. But the fact that Hossa came tot he wings in the first place does give some hope he might accept another offer under his market value. I also think he's the type of guy that could prioirtize happiness over money and I can't see him more or even the same level of that anywhere else. It will be interesting to monitor the outcome. I have faith that no matter what happens Detroit will be a top team with their youth and scouting and ability to draw stars, but this could be a season where a lot of key parts of the team are lost and a new identity will have to emerge. That always takes the wings about 2 or 3 years. Detroit has also always relied heavily on low cost vetran goaltenders (Vernon, Hasek, Cujo) now Osgood. At some point in the future I really would like to see them develop a young franchise goalie. But their low cost in net always supported a team in front that minimizes the impact. I really worry about Osgood this year and Conklin may have been good this year but I am not sure he is ready for a playoff run. I have to site this but take into account this was a goalie thrown into game 6 of the cup finals with like a minute left when he had not played a playoff game ever. So its pretty irrelivant but still a pretty huge blunder. Mostly Smyth's bad but still let your defense get the puck. www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwlvOmIe3XE
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Post by Zoom Waffles on Mar 24, 2009 9:25:10 GMT -5
they have mccollum in the pipeline... goalie for team USA at the WJC this year. didn't exactly turn heads there, but at least he was there.
i think most of hossa's decision will depend on whether detroit wins another cup. if they do, i bet he's out there, guaranteed. if they don't, he might stick around and try to win one with them.
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Post by fukufuji on May 12, 2009 15:01:17 GMT -5
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Post by fukufuji on Jun 8, 2009 16:06:30 GMT -5
I can understand the booing at Mellon Arena. It just occurred to me tomorrow he could be lifting the cup before 18000 pretty angry fans. A red wings win tomorrow would be very dramatic but I think its going to game 7 so hopfully we won't have to witness 130db of booing .
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Post by Zoom Waffles on Jun 8, 2009 17:47:21 GMT -5
hmm. just a random thought? ha.
you know what i can't figure out? why do they boo when sidney crosby touches the puck at the joe? was there some cheap shot i missed? some comment?
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Post by Zipper14 on Jun 8, 2009 19:44:10 GMT -5
If Hossa doesn't win a cup I can see him re-signing with the Wings for less. If he does win a cup then I think he'll go to the highest bidder.
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Post by fukufuji on Jun 9, 2009 12:49:19 GMT -5
hmm. just a random thought? ha. you know what i can't figure out? why do they boo when sidney crosby touches the puck at the joe? was there some cheap shot i missed? some comment? I think its just the general mob mentality hate on Sidney because it is trendy. They were chanting Crosby sucks and its pretty non classy by Detroit fans. One might hope the self proclaiming "Hockey Town" could do better than "______ Sucks, ______ Sucks, ______ Sucks"
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