Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Blackhawks Make Splash Again, Sign Hossa

Last offseason, coming off a campaign full of renewed energy and optimism, Chicago Blackhawks management decided to break the bank in an all-out effort to compete for the team's first Stanley Cup championship since 1961. With the blessing of chairman Rocky Wirtz, general manager Dale Tallon promptly went out and signed the best defenseman available, Brian Campbell, to an eight-year, 56.8 million dollar contract and goaltender Cristobal Huet for four years at a combined 22.5 million dollars on the very first day of free agency. After an incredibly quick turnaround this past season, one in which saw the Hawks advance to the Western Conference finals, management is intent on reiterating just how serious the franchise is about reclaiming its past glory.

With unrestricted free agents Martin Havlat and Nikolai Khabibulin expected to be of main concern, general manager Dale Tallon shocked the league and hockey fans in Chicago by announcing the signing of four-time All-Star right wing Marian Hossa to a 12-year, 62.8 million dollar contract. The 30-year-old Hossa skated for Detroit last season after signing a one-year deal with the Red Wings in hopes of winning a Stanley Cup. He'll have plenty of chances--12 to be exact--to try to win one with his hungry new teammates on the Hawks.

The Slovakian, a first-round pick of Ottawa in the 1997 Entry Draft, led the Red Wings in goals with 40 last year while also contributing 31 assists. In 23 playoff games, he tallied 15 points (6-9) as the Wings fell to the Pittsburgh Penguins--his former team--in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals. In 11 NHL seasons with four teams, Hossa has amassed 719 points (339-380) in 775 regular season games and has 76 points (31-45) in 98 playoff contests.

Hossa had been on the receiving end of mocking--particularly from Penguins fans--for bypassing opportunities to sign a mega deal last offseason, instead choosing to sign a one-year deal with the Wings, the team he thought had the best chance to win the Cup. With the main objective winning his first championship since hoisting the Memorial Cup 11 years ago with Portland of the Western Hockey League, Hossa believes the rejuvenated Blackhawks offer him the best chance to win the highly desired Cup.

With the signing of Hossa, Martin Havlat will be signing elsewhere after finally staying healthy for an entire season and arguably being the Hawks' best forward throughout last season. Havlat announced his desire to stay in Chicago on his Twitter page, but has clearly been replaced by the more experienced and stronger Hossa. It also looks as if Nikolai Khabibulin will have a new home, as the Hawks seem to be positioned to have Corey Crawford or Antti Niemi back up Huet next season.

The Hawks also announced the signing of fourth-line center Tomas Kopecky to a two-year contract on Wednesday afternoon. Kopecky, 27, was a teammate of Hossa's last season in Detroit, and he finished second on the team with 109 hits while tallying career highs in goals (6), assists (13) and points (19) in 79 regular season games. In four seasons with the Wings, Kopecky appeared in 183 regular season games.