Evaluating Stays in Motown: Marian Hossa

by Casey Richey on Jul 30, 2009 2:31 PM CDT in Analysis/Reaction

Year	Games	Goals	Assists	Points	+/-	PIM
07-08	74	40	31	71	+27	63

How he came to Detroit: Everyone knows the story here. Hossa left the Penguins following the 2008 Stanley Cup Finalsto join the Red Wings. Hossa's decision to leave Pittsburgh for Detroit drew the ire of many Penguins fans, and deservedly so. Now he will draw the ire of fans in Motown as he moved to division rival Chicago.

Impact of his stay: Hossa came in and was an immediate impact with the team. As one of the strongest players with the puck, Hossa continued to showcase what we briefly saw during his stay in Pittsburgh that given proper support, he is near unstoppable. He boosted interest and expectations for the defending Champs but in the end lost out to his former team.

Highs in Motown: During the regular season, Hossa was the biggest continual contributor to the offense and it was one highlight reel goal after another. 41 goals and the dominance that Hossa displayed created great opportunities for linemates. Hossa won several games on comeback wins or shootout goals, showing his clutch scoring. Even in the playoffs, Hossa did showcase at times his clutch scoring in the final game against the Blue Jackets, tallying two goals in a short span.

Lows in Motown: From about March 27 until the present. Hossa went missing in the playoffs and the location of the Cup parade shows it. Aside from the three games (one in each of the Western Conference rounds) in which he tallied two goals, Hossa didn't score any more goals but notched a few assists. And then there's the whole leaving the team for the rival thing...

Replaceable? As much as I hate to say it, no. The guy was a one man wrecking crew and on several occasions brought the Wings back into a game or won it for them. It will be incredibly difficult to replace the points that Hossa put up for the little bit of capspace remaining for the Wings.

Overall "Grade" for his stay: I'd have to give Hossa an A- or B+. If he had showed up in the playoffs, I would have no problem giving him an "A". .

In the end, it would be impossible to evaluate Hossa's statistical contribution to the Red Wings but I know I'm fine with the departure because of the reputation that he has garnered from his recent free agent exploits.

But let's hear what you all have to say on it too.

Poll

What grade--anger aside--would you assign Hossa for his stay in Detroit?

A

93 votes

B

356 votes

C

122 votes

D

14 votes

F

22 votes

607 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

ahhh....

Hossa wad a great player in Motown and will be hard to replace….. I was a little ticked because he left Detroit because of the cup final loss…. Well, we can’t win if the guy who wants the cup can’t score. Now he left Detroit for a “team with lodes of talent” who will only have that talent for two years max for 12 years. Well he was a good player and I do want to see him play agianst us, and see our reaction. We can relate to the pens. Who knows we might play eachother agian in the WCF next year?

Datsyuk is like Iverson....... Breaks ankles all the time!

by Wings40 on Jul 30, 2009 8:23 PM CDT reply actions

Hossa Stanley Cup Curse = F in my book. This player is toxic. Like Danny Heatley.

"Oh, buy Sam a drink and get his dog one too!" - Mike Lange

by gorgalor on Jul 31, 2009 4:23 AM CDT reply actions

Yes Curse

Yes when the leaders need to step up Hossa was MIA, I thought he was a poor example, some nights he would show up and play like a wrecking crew and other nights you wouldn’t know he was dressed. And he was a puck hog, but he has moved a lot, going through teams which indicates to me he is money greedy. Not a teamman, not our kind of player. I think he will be the same in Chicago, goodbye CCCCCCC

by Jim P on Jul 31, 2009 12:57 PM CDT up reply actions

Very very interesting...

http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2009/07/31/reports-nhl-investigating-marian-hossa-chris-pronger-contracts/

When the LEGAL side-effects of a substance, cause more harm to the person, than the side effect of the substance its self, we have an injustice.
- Jimmy Carter

by BIGWalt2990 on Jul 31, 2009 3:55 PM CDT reply actions

If only he showed up aside from Game 4's

Hossa had great regular season numbers but come the playoffs he only showed up come Game 4 or Not at all come the Finals. And I love how now is contract is under investigation…not to mention how Chicago is not gonna keep that team together long…what a year max? And they lost their No.1 Goalie…yikes Hossa better hope ya win it next year cuz after that there may be some long years coming to the Windy City. I agree with Jim P,hes not much of a team guy…Hank and Mule took the hometown discount for their contracts,Chelios took cuts before,Yzerman did it in his day,the list goes on and on of guys willing to play for less to stay in Hockeytown for a chance to win regularly. Why not take the Huds or Fedorov route and jump ship to the KHL while you’re at it.

by Jimbo5203 on Aug 4, 2009 10:25 AM CDT reply actions