Two sides to that argument. I get your reaction from your viewpoint (not a fan of the team with the player). But from a Hawks standpoint, I hope you can also see this side. The type of contract Hossa signed was common when it was signed. It was legal under the rules at the time. The league reviewed it and approved it. Then in the next CBA, they instituted this recapture penalty which applied RETROACTIVELY to a handful of players, including Rponger, Hossa, several others. From the Hawks viewpoint, that's equally BS to penalize retroactively. I think both our views are fair here.
- Cmonalready

This!

Great point!

Thanks for the memories Big Hoss - my favorite Hawk of this run. What a player!

Unless they can point out the allergic reaction specifically, I'm not buying it. Doctors have and will do more shady things if paid accordingly and many times have no better scruples than lawyers. Hossa can still play obviously and can get paid outside the NHL handsomely compared to a $1 million a year stipend from the Hawks.
- NJPensfan

We're being visited by all other teams versions of the "powerenforcer" tin foil crew.

I personally don't think it was because of cap issues. The issue was there, no doubt, but it could've been worked out if they wanted to keep him there
- YuenglingJagr

Because of the way the trade occured, i agree that drouin being moved was much more about irreconsilable difference between SY/Cooper and Drouin. All in all im okay with the trade that was made for drouin because in two years when serg matures he will be a monster. Also Gusev (lightning russian prospect) said after the drouin trade that he would wait and see if he would join the lightning when his KHL contract ended next year. This is a change of pace from what he said at the world championship when drouin was still on the team.

it's too bad we can't go back in time and force the Blackhawks to make the Hossa contract an 8 year 58 million dollar deal for a cap hit of 7.25 mil a year instead of the 12 year 62 million dollar deal with a 5.2 mil cap hit that the league let the Hawks get away with all these years.

it's bullpoop
- jimbo83

The Rangers signed a similar front loaded contract with Brad Richards in 2011:

https://www.capfriendly.com/players/brad-richards

What was your point again?

Wait ... when last seen Hossa was fine, obviously older and not the player he once was, but still a very good player ... and now 2 months later he's allergic to something and his playing career is over? Admittedly I don't know the details but this seems a little fishy to me, and more importantly it probably seems a little fishy to the league who is supposed to accept the story and allow LTIR relief to the Hawks.

Not that it matters what fans of other teams think, but many were unbelieving, if not apoplectic when Kane went on LTIR in 2015 allowing the Hawks to get Vermette to help them win the Cup, especially when Kane miraculously came off LTIR just in time for the first game of the playoffs. I've got to think a lot of fans will think this is BS, and I'm not sure I'm not one of them.

Unless they can point out the allergic reaction specifically, I'm not buying it. Doctors have and will do more shady things if paid accordingly and many times have no better scruples than lawyers. Hossa can still play obviously and can get paid outside the NHL handsomely compared to a $1 million a year stipend from the Hawks.
- NJPensfan

Are you a physician?

Lots of trolls pop in when they have a statement to make justifying a position they already had. Best thing to do is to ignore them.

Are you a physician?
- Tuke17

No, but he plays one on the Internet....

Thank you Gary Bettman, for this fine mess you made. Instead of letting players retire gracefully, you created a sideshow. I hope you don't show up for the draft later this week. You should be ashamed to show your face in Chicago now. And if you do, I hope someone from the Blackhawks org. has the guts to tell Bettman he is a piece of $hit.

The Rangers signed a similar front loaded contract with Brad Richards in 2011:

https://www.capfriendly.com/players/brad-richards

What was your point again?
- WEWANTCUP

yeah, and they bought him out when the league changed the rules after last CBA was signed, just like the Blackhawks should have been forced to do

WHY ?

Scott Powers‏ @ByScottPowers 31s31 seconds ago
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The #Blackhawks and defenseman Ville Pokka are working on a new deal

Are you a physician?
- Tuke17

No, but he stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night!!!

Going back several years, there were (two per team) no penalty buyout options. The hawks certainly considered using one of those on Hoss to avoid the punitive, RETROACTIVE recapture penalty legislated by the NHL. When they didn't use that buyout, while at the same time the NHL was allowing the "trade" of Pronger to Coyotes to circumvent their recapture panalty, I knew (or was at least pretty sure) the Hawks would never pay the recapture. the money was on back issues or concussion issues causing LTIR when it came time for Hoss to hang up the skates. I wish I had put my money on "allergic reaction to hockey equipment" in Vegas at the time. Imagine the odds I could have gotten!

yeah, and they bought him out when the league changed the rules after last CBA was signed, just like the Blackhawks should have been forced to do
- jimbo83

Oh that is why he got bought out? I thought it was just because he sucked

Unless they can point out the allergic reaction specifically, I'm not buying it. Doctors have and will do more shady things if paid accordingly and many times have no better scruples than lawyers. Hossa can still play obviously and can get paid outside the NHL handsomely compared to a $1 million a year stipend from the Hawks.
- NJPensfan

Pronger can still play. He proved it last year. Now, run along.

yeah, and they bought him out when the league changed the rules after last CBA was signed, just like the Blackhawks should have been forced to do
- jimbo83

Big difference on the buyout decision at the time: Richards sucked, Hossa was a star.

Oh that is why he got bought out? I thought it was just because he sucked
- YuenglingJagr

his last year with the Rangers was solid and he was very productive in their run to the finals

We're being visited by all other teams versions of the "powerenforcer" tin foil crew.
- mrpaulish

I do agree that not having hossa will probably cancel out with any sort of cap relief that comes from this. However you cant sit there and tell me this perfect timing for something like this to take place. Hossa is a no doubter for the HHOF and is an amazing player but the way all this transpired is gonna raise questions, you have to see that.

Not a doubt in my mind, and i wouldn't be upset if he did because it would have saved us. But considering that isn't the case im gonna be bitter as we just lost Drouin due to cap issues.
- headyhedman77

This is probably the 3rd time in 10 years I've responded to another teams' fan on the Hawks thread but you don't seem like a freak. Have you ever seen the list of players the Hawks have lost due to cap issues since their first cup, the issues you speak of as the reason for losing Drouin? If not the list is very easy to find.

his last year with the Rangers was solid and he was very productive in their run to the finals
- jimbo83

I was being facetious...

I just don't the the Rangers bought him out because they were forced by the league to do so. They wanted out and used the opportunity to do so

Not gonna call 100% pure bullpoop, but it is quite the coincidence that this allergy suddenly appears out of nowhere when his salary drops to "only" $1M per.

Robidas Island - Imagine............. A place where all your wishes come true.



*Slow clap*

Well played, Bowman, well played.

This is bullpoop! I'm so sick of teams circumventing the cap by putting players on the LTIR when they should be retiring, with their salary counting towards the cap. These teams should have to deal with the cap problems. We all knew full well that the player was never going to finish out the conctract. They should be punished for signing these stupid deals that lead to more lockouts.
- Ihatebrianburke

Hossa is a glass guy and is not well
Your comments are dreadful and should be withdrawn

To all of you people saying you "don't believe this", you need "proof"...PLEASE STOP! You all look like fools making this comment. Dr. Michael Terry is one of the most respected Doctors in the country - he's made a statement. I think I'll go with his professional opinion over some anonymous scribe on this blog.