Scouting the Free Agents: Marian Hossa
by Joe Fortunato on Jun 2, 2009 8:00 AM EDT
in NHL Free Agents
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PrintIt’s no surprise that the talk of last year’s free agency will once again be a hot topic come July 1st. In today's sports its downright shocking that a player in his prime would sign a one year deal, especially when they had to turn down an 8 year 90 million dollar contract in order to accept it. But that’s what again free agent Marian Hossa did last season, a move that was scrutinized and debated right up until the Finals. He did it for a shot at the Cup and that’s exactly what he is currently playing for.
Hossa once again had an impressive year, scoring 40 goals and adding 31 assists for 71 points in just 74 games. He has registered 80 or more points in 4 of his last 6 years, he registered 100 once (in 2006-2007). He has really started showing up for the playoffs scoring 6 goals and adding 8 assists in this year 18 games and in his career he now has 75 points in 93 playoff games.
Since Hossa is one of the better snipers in the league you can bet that he puts up power play goals. He notched 10 this year and has 77 power plays goals in his last 6 seasons. He would most definitely help the power play become more lethal, and he would fit the bill of a player that other teams have to watch out for. Hossa generally avoids the injury bug, especially since he has played in 72 or more games for the past ten seasons.
The deal Hossa put his name on was a one year 7.25 million dollar contract. You can be relatively sure that he will receive the same amount of dollars this year, although I do believe he will sign more than a one year deal. There have been rumors of Detroit wanting to resign him but they may not be able to offer him the kind of deal he wants, especially with the huge raises they just gave to Zetterberg and Franzen.
This time being a GM isn’t going to be easy. Can Hossa help? Yes. Will he flounder under the bright lights of Broadway? No he is currently succeeding in Hockeytown. But can you justify offering another 5-7 year deal for a player that is turning 31? Can the Rangers afford to offer anyone, even perennial superstar Marian Hossa, a deal that long with Redden, Drury and Gomez taking up nearly half the cap? You’re call. Have at it in the comments!
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I think the Rangers would have to trade at least 2 of their top paid players to be able to afford Hossa.
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by Jim Schmiedeberg on Jun 2, 2009 8:37 AM EDT reply actions
Now Manic, we have to remain positive, remember, the boss promised us a “retooling” yesterday.
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by Jim Schmiedeberg on Jun 2, 2009 10:19 AM EDT reply actions
oh yeah i forgot, how can i be so silly RETOOLING with the abundance of cap space we have! haha right..
it’s sad but the Rangers had a primetime scorer that would have been ready next season, RIP AC
by John Merrigan on Jun 2, 2009 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions
Don't really like Hossa
but I think he’s worth a shot.
I don’t know if he’d be as good without the centers he had in detroit, but maybe him and Gomez could have some magic?
I can honestly see Sather making a run for Marian Gaborik. He (Sather) seems to love reformation-type projects. Whether it be a player with a poor attitude being run out of town (ie. Lindros, Jagr) or one riddled with injury (ie. Straka, Nylander), Sather seems to gravitate toward those types of players with high potential who have not met it over the past couple of years for one reason or another.
I’m not saying Gaborik is necessarily the right man, but can definitely see Slats pitching him a considerable offer this summer. One can’t help but think that Gaborik would be a perfect fit for Scott Gomez. Health and contract length is obviously the main concerns with Gaborik, though Sather doesn’t seem to be too interested in the latter.
hossa has obviously shown he could step it up in the playoffs this year, which i thought was a first for him. it could be that system in detroit that brings the best out of everyone come may, but i think he even stepped it up another notch in the last few games sans datsyuk.
skill-wise, stats-wise, there’s no question. he’s definitely a player that could really help the rangers. you could argue he might be as effective as kovalchuk in points. the price tag for both is in the same ballpark. i like hossa for $7mil/3yr. i would be comfortable in moving things around for him, as long as you don’t touch the young core.
second pick after kovalchuk for me.
by #17ToTheRafters on Jun 2, 2009 11:11 AM EDT reply actions
I still like Kovalchuk more
Hes 5 years younger and scores just as many goals (actually more this year was a really great year for Hossa). Plus I would be more inclined to give Kovalchuk a long term deal than Hossa. A 7 year deal would run Hossa till he was 38 it would run Kovalchuk till he was 33. Take your pick.
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by Joe Fortunato on Jun 2, 2009 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions
there is NO comparison between Hossa and Kovalchuk. Simply put, Hossa is a complimentary player on a very good team, while Kovalchuk has always been the star.
by John Merrigan on Jun 2, 2009 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions
agreed good sir
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by Joe Fortunato on Jun 2, 2009 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions
oh i would definitely take kovalchuk in a heartbeat
i’m just saying i like hossa more than gaborik or anyone else we’ve chatted about. all i said in regards to comparing the two was their point total. they are definitely two different players. i can see him with gomez and avery on the first line.
by #17ToTheRafters on Jun 2, 2009 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions
i like hossa more than gaborik as well, although i will say that gaborik has a great upside if he ever stays healthy. thats a BIG if though.
by John Merrigan on Jun 2, 2009 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Erm no
he will be a UFA next year
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by Joe Fortunato on Jun 2, 2009 7:56 PM EDT up reply actions
I have a feeling the Rangers are going to be very tempted by Gaborik.
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by Jim Schmiedeberg on Jun 2, 2009 3:23 PM EDT reply actions
he’s going to be an interesting person to follow, he turned down an enormous offer from the Wild at one point (can’t remember how much) and with his injury this season and his previous health problems combined with economy, he ’s going to most likely see a real dip in salary. he might be affordable for the Rangers under the cap. the way i look at it is if MLB saw a decrease in the size of contracts due to the economy, the nhl definitely will.
by John Merrigan on Jun 2, 2009 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions
This would be sweet.
Gaborik at a discount would be great. Hossa would be great also. Anyone who will promote scoring and offense will be huge. A younger more long-term player would be great but we will have to wait for the future for that thanks to Slats.
marian hossa to the rangers ?
they are going to have to dump alot of salary to get hossa sure i want him every ranger fan wants a scorer but can we pull it off i say stau awawy from gaborik to injury prone maybee make a trade with the senators to get heatley and spezza i am willing to trade dubinsky to them in a package but not stahl or callahan where theres a will theres a way ……
We have nothing to trade.
We need to build these guys from within and let them make the team. Trading for guys like that are just filling the holes. Have patience we have some good guys coming along and our drafting has been decent the last few years. It’s a huge shame about Cherapanev, he was blue chip I believe and on the right wing where we needed it.
very good chance he would have been a malkin/ovechkin type
by John Merrigan on Jun 2, 2009 8:00 PM EDT up reply actions
I looked at Cherepanov more like a Semin-type of player. Malkin and Ovechkin are both skilled, but are also big and physical (Ovechkin more than Malkin obviously, but Evgeni has developed it more over the past season).
Hopefully Grachev can surprise us and become a solid top six+ forward.
homestly it would surprise me more if he
didnt turn into a top 6 foward. Other teams are drooling over him and kicking themselvs for passing him up so many times in the draft.
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by Joe Fortunato on Jun 3, 2009 9:52 AM EDT up reply actions
we’re not trading dubinsky. we shouldn’t be trading callahan or staal either unless we get young comparable talent in exchange. the kids were the heart and soul of this organization in 2009 and the fans i’ve spoken to are unanimous in their support of this core.
by #17ToTheRafters on Jun 2, 2009 11:23 PM EDT up reply actions
What about Vinny Levavalier?
I don’t remember anything on him and Torts not getting along, he’d be as good as any and maybe Tampa would take a contract back in addition to some prospects?
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