Marian Hossa: Will He Ever Get His Stanley Cup?

(I got this image on google and I am aware Hossa is actually number 81 for Detroit.  Photoshop perhaps?)

Detroit came out strong to start the 2009 Stanley Cup Final on their home ice winning both games and going up 2-0 in the series.  But after game four, the series is all tied up as Pittsburgh rallied themselves to make it a best of three starting Saturday.

In the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Marian Hossa after being traded from the Thrashers at the deadline to the Penguins, proved to be a very valuable asset to the already powerful Pittsburgh squad – with Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby.  Hossa finished third overall in the playoffs with 26 points and with teammate Sidney Crosby ahead of him.  Despite his efforts, Pittsburgh lost to Detroit in the 2008 Stanley Cup Final 4-2.

Now comes the interesting part.  After completion of the 2008 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins offered Hossa a 5-year, 7 million dollar anual contract; however, Hossa turned down this in favor of a one-year deal at Detroit for 7.45 million dollars.  He as well turned down a multi-year deal worth $9 million annually for the Oilers. 

His reason?  Hossa claims he would have a better opportunity of winning a championship with the Red Wings.  And even if he can turn the deal into a multi-year one later on, he would be okay with making less money at Detroit saying, “I know if I go somewhere else, I could have more, but I’m willing to take less to stay here. Hopefully things work out.”

So here we are one year later, and as Hossa had hoped, he is currently 2 games away from winning the Stanley Cup.  The only problem is, the team he left saying wouldn’t have as good a chance as the Red Wings, are in the same position.  The dislike in Pittsburgh of his claims were apparent in the last two games at Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh where every time Hossa touched the puck, boos were shouted throughout the entire arena. 

The series will continue this Saturday evening where it will be moved back to Detroit for game 5.  Hossa hopes to turn things around, as it is now best of three.