Does Signing Marian Hossa Make Any Sense?
June 27th, 2008 by SteveNo, I’m not crazy.
Marian Hossa is going to make more than $7 million a year for the foreseeable future. He is going to basically get a max money contract. He’s 29 years old. He’s fresh of a 26 point run in 20 playoff games for the Stanley Cup Finalist Pens. He played in a crappy market in Atlanta for 2 years, and he put up numbers, helped them make the playoffs alongside Ilya Kovalchuk, and then went nowhere fast. I think he was sick of playing in front of an empty stadium personally.
The Leafs are going to have upwards of $14 million to spend on July 1st. They’re going to still be relatively deep on the blue line, but they lack for scoring punch. They also have virtually NO natural right wingers on their roster, or in their system.
Hossa can put up 90-100 points on a yearly basis and will score 30+ goals if he’s given the opportunity. He can basically replace the output of Mats Sundin, and perhaps improve on it. He’s better defensively than Sundin… He was +17 and +18 in his first two years in Atlanta for chrissakes. He’s got wheels, he can play physically. At 6′1″ 210lbs, he won’t shy away from contact. He’s basically one of the best power forwards in the game today.
You don’t sign him to “lead” the team, though I don’t think his leadership skills are particularly lacking. You sign him to provide offense, and you let players like Antropov, Kaberle, Steen, Stajan, and Toskala who the media are familiar with, deflect some of the attention likely to shine Hossa’s way. He could make Alex Steen that much better in his development.
Just something to consider.
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5 Responses to “Does Signing Marian Hossa Make Any Sense?”
By bkblades on Jun 27, 2008
I wouldn’t mind the move at all. But at the same token, Hossa basically turned down about $7 million from the Penguins as well. And that’s a team with better teammates, clearer leadership hierarchy, and a relatively healthy hockey market.
I don’t think it’s unreasonable that Hossa signs a 5 year/$40-45 million dollar contract as a bare minimum. If that’s the case, I wouldn’t be a big fan of the Leafs making that kind of commitment to Hossa. I would be very surprised to see Hossa put up 90+ points with the Leafs, especially since statistically, Sundin put up equal if better point production per 60 minutes and on the power play than Hossa. And Sundin hasn’t scored 90 points in more than a decade.
By bkblades on Jun 27, 2008
Oh, just to be clear: I’m not saying Sundin is a better signing than Hossa, nor am I advocating the Leafs to re-sign Sundin. Simply stating that an argument can be made that Sundin scoring rates are better than Hossa (not total points) over the past three years.
By Marco on Jun 27, 2008
Marian Hossa said he will only sign with a contender, so unless you offer up league max a NMC, and a 5 year term, he’ll say no.
By LeaferSutherland on Jun 28, 2008
I don’t think Hossa and the Leafs make a good mix. He has always come off as a complimentary player in my mind, and unfortunately we haven’t got any forwards he can compliment.
Beyond that, I can’t see him passing up a chance to play with Crosby and have another shot at the Cup, to come to Toronto and possibly wind up with some “Bryan McCabe” treatment from the fans, should he fail to live up to expectations.
I think Hossa is a fine player, but to pay him 8 or more million to be a one man show, seems awful risky to me.
By Doug on Jun 28, 2008
Signing Hossa would not only be conterproductive to the rebuilding process, it would be a very irresponsible move by Fletcher. Let’s not kid ourselves. The Leafs are half a team away from being legitimate contenders. That likely includes 4 or 5 players for their top 6 forwards alone; that need to be brought in and developed. Luke Schenn is a blood and guts defenceman, but he alone is not a game breaker, but in a few years he could be a game saver by keeping other teams top lines from scoring at their average rate. Bringing in a top flight forward like Hossa may have the effect of adding enough to the Leaf’s winning percentage that it costs them from drafting the all-star caliber players they will need to win the cup. Having Sundin and bringing in Toskella almost cost the leafs a building block pick this year. Fletcher paid big time but was able to get the Leafs a piece of the puzzle in Schenn. Cliff can’t trade high picks every year to move up in the draft. Else it will prolong the rebuilding process to a publiclly unacceptable length. Then 7 or 8 years from now, with Toronto still cupless we will be having this same discussion all over again. The next couple of years will suck for Leaf fans, but maybe next year they can cheer for a guy like John Tavares or Victor Hedman. Maybe in 5 years the leafs can be in the Cup finals like Pittsberg was this year. Isn’t that what Leaf fans really want?