Blackhawks Sign Marian Hossa to 12-Year Contract

The Blackhawks made a huge splash on the free agent market on Wednesday by signing former Red Wings forward Marian Hossa to a 12-year contract worth $62.8 million. The deal averages out to $5.23 million per season. The Red Wings had been negotiating with Hossa up until yesterday to the talented right wing in Detroit, but a deal could not be worked out. The Red Wings were hoping to sign Hossa to a long-term contract worth an average of $4 million per season, but Hossa was looking for at least $5 million per season. In 74 games last season with Detroit, he scored 40 goals and 31 assists for 71 points. In 775 career games, he has 339 goals and 380 assists for 719 points with the Ottawa Senators, Atlanta Thrashers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Detroit Red Wings. This is a tremendous signing for the Blackhawks, as Hossa is a highly skilled forward. He has great offensive skills, a knack for scoring goals, and lots of speed. He will be a good fit with up-and-coming players like Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, and Kris Versteeg. The only problem with this deal is that it could hamper the Blackhawks’ efforts over the next two summers to re-sign some of their skilled, young players, including Kane, Toews, Versteeg, Cam Barker, Brent Seabrook, Duncan Keith, and Troy Brouwer. Chicago GM Dale Tallon will have to get very crafty to keep all of these players in the fold.