• Print

Marian Hossa signs massive 12-year contract with Chicago Blackhawks

The Canadian Press

2009-07-01 15:50:00

CHICAGO - Marian Hossa's hockey odyssey appears to have reached its final destination.

The free-agent winger has signed a massive 12-year deal with the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Blackhawks are Hossa's fourth NHL team over the past three years and might also be the last one he ever plays for.

Hossa spent last season with the Detroit Red Wings, but decided to walk away from Motown with the Wings unable to meet his salary demands.

Chicago also signed Tomas Kopecky away from the rival Red Wings, agreeing to a two-year deal with the free-agent forward.

"To add (Marian and Tomas) to our exciting young core reinforces our commitment to try to win the Stanley Cup," Blackhawks GM Dale Tallon said in a statement.

The 30-year-old Hossa had a good regular season with 40 goals and 71 points but things turned a bit sour from there. He was held scoreless in Detroit's last eight playoff games - including all seven during a loss to Pittsburgh in the Stanley Cup final.

In 775 career games with Ottawa, Atlanta, Pittsburgh and Detroit, Hossa has 339 goals and 719 points.

Kopecky spent parts of four seasons with the Red Wings after being drafted in the second round in 2000. He has 32 points (12-20) in 183 games.

COMMENTS (2)

Sort: Oldest | Newest    Filter: All | Videos


raiger Posted
(2009-07-02 20:29:33)

profile picture


why the 12 year deal? simple. the salary cap. by extending the deal over 12 years, and front loading it with all but $3.5 million, which is saved for the last four seasons, the hawks will get a star player in marian hossa for the next eight seasons, and then be able to buy him out for next to nothing if he does not have any more gas in the tank. hossa is worth far more than $5.2 million this year, and i'd predict up to six or seven years from now as well. after that, the 'hawks simply buy him out if he's not worth the cap hit. in my opinion, this is a great contract to give a player like hossa. the only probably is the blackhawks are the wrong team to be doing this, given that kaner, tazer, and duncs all need new contracts a year from now. it would appear that tallon has compromised the 'hawks promising future with the stupid signings of huet and campbell, but then again, you gotta believe that tallon, bowman, and the rest of the front office know this and have a plan in place or else they wouldn't be doing this. let's hope...
    0



lechuck Posted
(2009-07-01 20:42:29)



I think Hossa is a bargain for $5.2 million per year for now but 12 years is too long. Who knows how well he will be playing in 5 years, let alone 12. I cannot understand why anyone would want to sign any player to a contract of longer than about 5 years.
    0



1

ADD YOUR COMMENT

Register or Login to submit a comment
Player/Injury News - Up to the Minute NHL Updates This Week - Subscribe Now

THN Puck Poll

View all

Who should start in goal for Russia at the Olympics?





THN Newsletter - Sign Up Now

SAY WHAT?!?

View all

“I was coming in to take the boards away and had some good jump. He bobbled the puck at the last second and I don’t think he saw me coming at all. It was a shoulder right in his chest. He’s eight feet tall, so it’s not like you could hit him in the head.”

- Ottawa's Chris Neil about a hit he threw on Tampa's Victor Hedman Thursday night, causing Hedman to leave the game.

Our Partners