Friedman: Marian Hossa will not play in 2017-18; Career in jeopardy

[caley]

According to several sources, there is a legitimate possibility Hossa has played his final NHL game. (He could not be reached for comment. Neither could his agent, Ritch Winter. The Blackhawks declined to comment.) Apparently, he suffers from a serious allergic reaction to the equipment he wears.

The sources who confirmed the allergy stressed not to make fun of it, with one saying, “It’s only funny to anyone who’s never had it.†Details are sketchy, because no one would give full information, but the medication necessary to combat the allergy is potent enough that doctors wanted his blood tested every few weeks to make sure there were no major side effects.

That’s very serious stuff, and word is doctors worried about Hossa taking the medicine for extended periods of time.

If that’s the case, it would be the end of a Hall of Fame career. No debate here, he deserves entry.

Hossa is scheduled to be paid $1 million during each of the next four seasons, meaning almost 94 per cent of his contract is already paid. If he were to retire now, the Blackhawks would be hit with what are called “cap recapture†penalties — $3.675 million off their club’s cap number from next season until 2020-21. For a team already facing a crunch, that’s a massive blow.

Unless he doesn’t retire. He simply goes on long-term injured reserve.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/30-thoughts-marian-hossa-might-played-final-nhl-game/

That would be a shocker. Just a little while back I was reading about how Hossa was preparing for another season.

Click to read more...

 

[Ashasx]

This is blatant cap circumvention and every other GM in the league should be furious.

The Hawks should even be penalized for this nonsense.

 

[LoovTrain]

Rrrrriiiiiiggggghhhhhtttttt.

 

[FloJack]

I thought that annoying bland frat boy on Sportsnet was joking until I read this.

 

[One Winged Angel]

Yeah, Chicago better be penalized for this.

 

[Fish on The Sand]

So exactly when his contract drops to the BS years he is deathly allergic to his equipment and can't play? Nothing suspicious about that.

 

[LaVar]

What are the chances there isn't really a "serious allergic reaction"

 

[Colt.45Orr]

Sounds legit.
Cough.

 

[HawkeyTalkMan]

If Hossa does retire and Chicago can LTIR him or move him to a team that can dead cap space him, a Rick Nash with retention to the Hawks makes too much sense here. Can step right in and check a lot of boxes that losing Hossa will leave

 

[TOGuy14]

I hate to be that guy, but how convenient is it that Hossa has to retire now, the first of his four years of cap circumventing $1m salaries?

And the reason is an allergy to hockey equipment?

Obviously I don't have all the details but I really hope the league serioisly investigates this

 

[HuskerTornado]

He's allergic to playing in that equipment for $1M/year.

 

[HawkeyTalkMan]

So exactly when his contract drops to the BS years he is deathly allergic to his equipment and can't play? Nothing suspicious about that.

Hossa during his meeting with the NHL office investigation

 

[GirardIsStupid]

This is blatant cap circumvention and every other GM in the league should be furious.

The Hawks should even be penalized for this nonsense.

I'm having trouble believing this story too. Certainly, I can understand medications being used to treat an allergy and needing regular monitoring for it. But, I just have trouble believing that one would have an allergy to the fabric in the equipment and that this issue never came up until now.

 

[VoluntaryDom]

Sounds annoying AF, being allergic to equipment

 

[Mr Positive]

I'm fine with this as long as the Oilers can do this for Lucic if we need to

 

[mouser]

The most obvious cure is a different colored jersey. Dunno how the docs could have overlooked that.

 

[tfriede2]

IF this is true - he can't find equipment that he's not allergic to? He can't wear stuff underneath so his skin doesn't make contact with the equipment? Come on now.

 

[Nakawick]

Dude is allergic to his equipment? Jesus, why not just say the dog ate his contract.

 

[The Thin White Duke]

The trick is to make the reason so stupid no one thinks you'd be dumb enough to try to fake it.

 

[Worraps]

Nice try Stan.

 

[Morry83]

Hmmm...

 

[iFan]

What a horrible lie... NHL won't do anything about it cause it's the Hawks and they get away with this crap

 

[Ace]

He's got a bad case of convenientitous.

 

[Malkinstheman]

So how does Chicago replace him? Obviously the cap space is huge but hossa was huge in all the cups.

 

[Jag68Sid87]

Well, it's been a decade since we had a controversy with Hossa.

This smells like shenanigans to me. Was Lamoriello consulted before going public?