ESPN speculated that the Hawks may buy out Hossa. Would we want him back?
Hossa back? Yes please.
He'd make about $2m on his buyout, so we might be able to get him for close to Franzen's cap hit.
Definitely for under $5m... buy out Sammy and Bert, and use the $$$ for Hossa?
Too old IMO, he'll be 35 in January, only got a few years left.
I highly doubt they buy out Hossa, they have better options as far as compliance buy outs like Olesz and Montador.
They won't be able to keep all their UFA/RFA's but they should be able to keep most of them without having to do anything drastic.
Pick him up in a heartbeat if he's bought out- it's a no-brainer. The guy plays Selke-level defense on the wing (IMO), is great at puck possession, and his quick release wrister is awesome... one of my favorite players in the league.
Even if he wasn't still a great player, I'd like Kenny to sign him just to shut up all of the idiot Wings fans who boo him every game at the Joe since he signed with the Hawks. The guy left a lot of guaranteed long-term $ on the table to sign with Detroit for one season, and then left to take the Hawks offer when it was clear he was the odd man out with the Wings roster situation... never understood how fans could boo him for that. Any player would do the same thing in his situation.
I wouldn't boo the guy, but I don't think it helped that Hossa didn't exactly break the bank to sign with Chicago. The averages between the Wings and Hawks deals was around $400K or $500K a year, wasn't it? It's a bit unfair, but I can imagine people asking that if he liked Detroit so much, why he wasn't willing to lose that extra bit of cash every year.
As I said, it's a bit unfair, and I don't hold it against Hossa for bolting. Good player, and it worked out well for him. Meanwhile, I'd hate having another of those lifetime deals on the Wings.
It's tough to nail down exactly what the Wings were offering Hossa after his season with them- seems to have been in the neighborhood of $45M or so over 10 years. Assuming that's correct, or close to being right, then the Hawks offer of $63M over 12 years was much better. I don't think he'd have much earning power if he was to complete the 10 year deal with the Wings and then hit the market at age 39 or 40.
I laugh when I read Wings fans or media/bloggers call his 1 year deal with Detroit as a "mercenary" contract. I thought it was pretty ballsy on his part. He reportedly turned down a $5M/7 year deal from the Pens to sign with Detroit, and a $9M/multi-year deal from the Oilers, so he was taking a huge risk with a 1 year deal signed in his prime- one Matt Cooke headshot or a blown ACL and he's out $50M+.
I'm sure he hoped the 1 year Wings contract could turn into a multi-year deal but they didn't compete with Chicago's offer. After the risk he took with the 1 year deal, I don't see why he should have felt compelled to take less $$ to stay in Detroit, or why the Wings would expect it. He probably took stock of the Wings and Hawks rosters and immediate futures, and went with the team with the better Cup chances (he got that one right) that also happened to pay him a sizable amount more $$. I agree with you that he didn't even break the bank with his Hawks deal either- seems like he could have pulled a larger deal given his skill level, production, and being in his prime.
They only have $2 million left in cap room and will likely resign Leddy to something like $20 million over 4 years. Hossa may very well be bought out, especially since Kane and Toews are due for raises again in 2 years anyways.
They only have $2 million left in cap room and will likely resign Leddy to something like $20 million over 4 years. Hossa may very well be bought out, especially since Kane and Toews are due for raises again in 2 years anyways.
Why cause the Rangers overpaid Del Zotto? The Canadiens overpaid Subban? That figure on Leddy is way above anything he is close to getting. For the record both those players are better than Leddy.
I don't think Hossa will be bought out, but if I was Hossa I would root for it, he should get 6 million or maybe a little more afterwards, why not get paid twice? Bobby Holik is in the top 10 in career earnings thanks to a buyout and another big contract.
2.875m is overpayment for a Norris finalist?