NHL
Luster of Cup lures Hossa to Red Wings
Marian Hossa could have gotten a multiyear deal for big money and a smaller chance at an elusive Stanley Cup ring.
One year in Hockeytown turned out to be a much better offer.
Hossa, one of the top forwards available on the NHL free agent market, agreed to terms on a one-year, $7.45 million deal with Detroit on Wednesday. It was the Red Wings who beat Hossa and the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games during the Stanley Cup finals last month.
The Penguins tried to keep him in alongside young superstars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, but the opportunity for a title lured Hossa away.
“It was a really tough decision for me to make,” Hossa said. “When I compared the two teams, I felt like I would have a little better of a chance to win the Cup in Detroit.”
With Hossa off the board, that leaves Toronto Maple Leafs captain Mats Sundin and New York Rangers counterpart Jaromir Jagr as the most attractive forward options.
While Jagr might be nearing completion of a deal somewhere — perhaps returning to the Rangers or heading to Pittsburgh to replace Hossa — Sundin isn’t close to picking a landing spot. A day after receiving lucrative offers from four teams, the 37- year-old Sundin issued a statement through agent J. P. Barry that he needs more time to decide his future plans.
One offer on the table is from the Vancouver Canucks, who presented a two-year deal that would make Sundin the highest-paid player in the NHL. The proposal is for two years, reportedly for the whopping price of $20 million.
Sean Avery, the Rangers’ prime agitator, left New York and the fashion world behind to sign a four-year, $15.5 million deal with the Dallas Stars. In 86 games with New York over the last two seasons, the club was 50-20-16 with him in the lineup and 9-13-3 without him.
“I think what I’ve done is just learn to manipulate the line [between right and wrong],” he said, laughing. “I like to push it to the edge, no doubt about it. That’s how I play. That’s how I live. That’s what I’m all about. I’ve learned to do it without hurting the team.”
The Blue Jackets also lost a key player when defenseman Ron Hainsey agreed to terms on a five-year, $22.5 million contract with the Atlanta Thrashers. Hainsey had eight goals and 24 assists with Columbus.
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