Marian Hossa. What a Guy.
Nobody saw this one coming. Marian Hossa to Detroit? Maybe. But for one year?
After cutting the deal, Red Wings' GM Ken Holland was beside himself. Cue the violins:
"Success is about sacrifice — sacrificing ice time, sacrificing personal statistics, sacrificing some money," said Holland. "Success doesn't come easily. Marian, obviously, wants to come here because he thinks we give him the best chance to win the Stanley Cup. He's showing incredible sacrifice — and it goes to his determination and character and how important winning is to him, and playing with other good players.Hossa's agent can't get over it either. He spent the day burbling about how "special" Marian is.
So the guy joins the best team in hockey, gets $7.4 million for his troubles, and we're supposed to get all weepy about his sacrifice?
Let's try the contrarian view: Hossa's looking for a short cut to the Stanley Cup, hitching a ride with the big boys because he can't be bothered going through the time and effort required to build a winner with the Penguins.
Nonsense, you say? Sure, but it's just as legit as all that smoke Ken Holland is blowing up Hossa's garter. And they'd believe it in Pittsburgh.
The addition of Hossa will have many predicting a Stanley Cup repeat for the Wings. How can they lose after welcoming such a selfless martyr to the fold?
Not so fast. Let's keep in mind the most reliable rule of free agent season: Spend in July, repent in April.
(Photo: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
Comments
What with the bitterness, Hossa run over your dog, did you have money on Pittsburg in the playoffs?
It’s not exactly like Hossa was some late round draft pick of Pittsburg or they made him a reclamation project or something, maybe he didn’t want to play there, maybe he thinks Sidney is diving crybaby… who knows maybe the coaches whining got on his nerves.
If Hossa took Edmonton’s dump-truck load of money, would you have used the same title but castigate Hossa as a money grubbing, rather than a cup grubbing mercenary.
2 questions:
A: Did you write the same thing about Luc in 2002 (or would you have)?
B: If and its a big if Hossa ends up staying long term next year (as Holland seems to think he might/may whatever) will you revisit this post?
My thoughts exactly. And apparently the Pens were told by Hossa’s agent that if they upped the offer to $50 million he’d sign. Didn’t quite happen that way as we can all see. Might be for the best if he didn’t want to be in Pittsburgh. Now they have room to maneuver with that extra money.
Paul Klos:
It doesn’t matter to me where Hossa plays, or for how long. He doesn’t owe the Penguins anything.
That’s why my post identifies the contrarian anti-Marian view as nonsense.
My point is that it’s no more nonsense than all the blather we’re hearing about what a great guy he is.
When coaches, managers and sportswriters start talking about character and sacrifice and what motivates a player, you know they’re feeding you a big crock of bull droppings. That’s my point.
Hossa was dump#1 by the Senators for Healy, so Healy could have a new home! Remember?
Hossa was dump by Alanta, who were concerned about getting nothing if Hossa went the UFA route, so dump #2. Hossa now has the chance to select where he wishes to go, and what happens? Loser sportwriters drop a dime on him…
Actually, it seemed Hossa was sent along because he wasn’t performing well on the Thrashers team and he wanted out because they weren’t Stanley contenders for that season. I’d watch many Thrasher games where Hossa would be on the ice but nothing really exciting happening. That’s why I can’t understand all of the hoopla about how great a player he is. To me, he acts like he can’t be bothered unless there’s the possibility of a Stanley Cup in the future.
This story was amusing to me. A pro sports personality playing for something OTHER than the love of the game?!? Horrors! I wish I knew what this moron had to say when Ray Borque went to the Avs and won a cup. The big point is that the Wings have deftly managed their cap and have the means to make a deal happen. Throw in a culture of winning, and a style of play more attractive to Hossa, and what you have is back to back Cups in Motown!