There is so much talk that the Penguins may not retain Marian Hossa's services this summer as free agency season hits. Word is that Hossa is going to want a raise from his current $7 million salary.More than $7 million?What's this jackass worth? My opinion? NOT THAT MUCH!
For those who would disagree, I will quickly make my point. I would put a lot of money on the fact that Hossa's stats dramatically increased in the playoffs:
1. Because he was playing with Crosby.
2. He was in the final year of his contract.
Yeah, one of those players that overachieves and is super-motivated because free agency season is coming up and a raise in imminent.
Well, Hossa didn't exactly whoop ass in the regular season. He played 72 games, scored 26 goals and only 66 points. He was a -14. Most of that minus came from playing in Atlanta until the trade deadline. So what. That further proves my point. Until the postseason started, Hossa was having a lousy year. He all of a sudden lit it up in the playoffs though, scoring 12 goals and 26 points in 20 games. A monstrous achievment. Hossa silenced his critics about performing in the playoffs. Ottawa fans must be thinking: "where the hell was THIS Hossa when he played for us???"
But you have think that Hossa's agent won't look at this past regular season as a guage for his raise. Nah, he'll use the playoffs and the previous 2 seasons with the Thrashers, where Hossa scored 82 goals and 192 points in 162 games. Impressive.
My dilemna as a GM would be: which Hossa will I be getting? The uninterested slumping Hossa, or the playoff monster of 2008 and regular season guru of 2005-2007?
Are you going to pay a guy more than $7 million to put the puck in the net? What about other attributes? Is he a leader? Is he motivated? Does he make players around him better? To me, it seems like the other way around. Sure, Hossa has wheels and a great shot. But he needs to be surrounded by talent....like Crosby. Like a non-slumping Kovalchuk. If not, his production dips by about 40%.
Am I being fair? Would you sign Hossa for $8 million?
I say, too risky. I'll pass.
**UPDATE**
In an act of 'unselfishness', Hossa has hinted that he may take a pay cut to stay in Pittsburgh.
"If I wanted to make a couple more dollars, I would probably just re-sign with Atlanta," Hossa said. "There's always a limit, but I'd rather take a little less and play on a good team, definitely."We'll see what happens with this. Hossa seems to realize where his bread and butter are.
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