Justin Lowe: Hossa Reaction and What's Next? Stan Bowman was finally able to find a taker for Marian Hossa's contract.

We've all seen the deal by now, but let's look again quickly:

Arizona Coyotes acquire: Marian Hossa, Vinnie Hinostroza, Jordan Oesterle, 3rd round pick in 2019

Chicago Blackhawks acquire: MacKenzie Entwhistle, Jordan Maletta, Andrew Campbell, 5th round pick in 2019.

1st

I misread the title thinking it was Marian Hossa's reaction to being traded....

These 'ghost' trades should have the 'actual' player turn up at the Yotes hq, get a press conference & have an official presentation.

It's ridiculous in my opinion this type of trade can happen. Plenty will argue it though.

These 'ghost' trades should have the 'actual' player turn up at the Yotes hq, get a press conference & have an official presentation.

It's ridiculous in my opinion this type of trade can happen. Plenty will argue it though.
- Aussiepenguin

It is ridiculous, but so are the recapture penalties that make them necessary.

Trading Hossa to bring in the ghost of Rick Nash? That would be such a Hawk move.

Use the cap space wisely. Love the idea of acquiring Stralman and a nice prospect like you mentioned. Would be killing two birds with one stone. Unfortunately, doubt it comes to fruition even if Stevie Y needs to clear space for EK, I would think he’ll sweeten a deal for anyone willing to take Callahan. At the end of the day, Stralman is still a top-4 d-man and TB would need him to contend.

It is ridiculous, but so are the recapture penalties that make them necessary.
- Ogilthorpe2

All teams know & are bound by the cap recapture penalties & are aware of them at time of signing.

These ghost trades are cap circumvention in my opinion & benifit 1 team greatly & a 2nd team mildly. The teams doing them usually want their cake & eat it - & usually get it through these trades. You sign the player you take whatever that player gives you good & bad.

I can't wait to see Nashville trade for Weber back after he basically retires early, only to trade him to the Yotes for cap relief. I hope they get screwed twice.

Everyone keeps talking about this "baby core" leading us to the next Cup. Well, where is the next Hossa to lead that "baby core" ?? And does anyone here really believe the "baby core" is/will be capable of that?? Right now at least, I don't see it.


I still contend, no Hossa, perhaps no Cups.

All teams know & are bound by the cap recapture penalties & are aware of them at time of signing.

These ghost trades are cap circumvention in my opinion & benifit 1 team greatly & a 2nd team mildly. The teams doing them usually want their cake & eat it - & usually get it through these trades. You sign the player you take whatever that player gives you good & bad.
- Aussiepenguin

The recapture penalties were added in the last CBA Expost Facto. Punishing teams after fact for contracts that were approved by the league at the time of signing is BS

All teams know & are bound by the cap recapture penalties & are aware of them at time of signing.

These ghost trades are cap circumvention in my opinion & benifit 1 team greatly & a 2nd team mildly. The teams doing them usually want their cake & eat it - & usually get it through these trades. You sign the player you take whatever that player gives you good & bad.

I can't wait to see Nashville trade for Weber back after he basically retires early, only to trade him to the Yotes for cap relief. I hope they get screwed twice.
- Aussiepenguin

NO.

The NHL made up these recapture penalties after they had approved the contracts of both Hossa and Luongo because they wanted to put an end to these type of deals.

But when teams like Arizona subsequently have no money and struggle to get to the cap floor all of a sudden its OK for them to acquire Pronger, Bolland, Datsyuk etc. Its the NHL afterall.

Great post Justin. Finally Stan made a brilliant move that has more upside then risk.

I think Gustafson and Rutta might be the next pieces to fall to clear more cap space for a top 6 forward and top Rhd making room to bring up forsling to offset Gustafson

Trading Hossa to bring in the ghost of Rick Nash? That would be such a Hawk move.

Use the cap space wisely. Love the idea of acquiring Stralman and a nice prospect like you mentioned. Would be killing two birds with one stone. Unfortunately, doubt it comes to fruition even if Stevie Y needs to clear space for EK, I would think he’ll sweeten a deal for anyone willing to take Callahan. At the end of the day, Stralman is still a top-4 d-man and TB would need him to contend.

I don't think that is true if they're making room to bring in Karlsson. Their top 6 would be:

Hedman-Karlsson
Mcdonagh-Coburn
Sergachev-Girardi

It's possible Stralman could be had if nobody wants to take Callahan. After all, Callahan is a fringe player being paid 5.8M now. TB would have to include quite a package to rid themselves of that contract.

All teams know & are bound by the cap recapture penalties & are aware of them at time of signing.

These ghost trades are cap circumvention in my opinion & benifit 1 team greatly & a 2nd team mildly. The teams doing them usually want their cake & eat it - & usually get it through these trades. You sign the player you take whatever that player gives you good & bad.

I can't wait to see Nashville trade for Weber back after he basically retires early, only to trade him to the Yotes for cap relief. I hope they get screwed twice.
- Aussiepenguin

No, the teams did not know the cap recapture penalties for a lot of contracts that were approved under the old CBA. The league approved the Hossa contract (among many others), and then in the new CBA decided to add a penalty after the fact. That's why the cap recapture penalty for contracts signed under the old CBA are complete and utter BS.

I don't think that is true if they're making room to bring in Karlsson. Their top 6 would be:

Hedman-Karlsson
Mcdonagh-Coburn
Sergachev-Girardi

It's possible Stralman could be had if nobody wants to take Callahan. After all, Callahan is a fringe player being paid 5.8M now. TB would have to include quite a package to rid themselves of that contract.
- Hawks_49

Coburn is absolutely not a top-4 d-man. He’s a 33-year-old pylon who is a bottom pairing d-man.

A top-four of Hedman, EK, McD, and Stralman is the best top-four in the game, and it’s not particularly close either.

TB has come close for years now and Stevie may not ever have a better opportunity than he does now. He could easily swing for the fences one more time before encroaching cap hell. If he has to overpay to get rid of Callahan, I think he will.

Coburn is absolutely not a top-4 d-man. He’s a 33-year-old pylon who is a bottom pairing d-man.

A top-four of Hedman, EK, McD, and Stralman is the best top-four in the game, and it’s not particularly close either.

TB has come close for years now and Stevie may not ever have a better opportunity than he does now. He could easily swing for the fences one more time before encroaching cap hell. If he has to overpay to get rid of Callahan, I think he will.
- TommyHawk

I don't disagree. My point is that TB would still be a contender by replacing Stralman with Karlsson if that's what happens. They were a contender this year and taking out Stralman and bringing in a top tier player makes them better.

They should certainly try to get rid of Callahan and exhaust all options there before even discussing Stralman. But if it comes down to a choice between Stralman and Karlsson, that's not even a debate.

Ok so the Hawks weren't aware of the soon to be recapture penalties - my mistake. How many years passed by after signing? The Hawks knew of the 'new' recapture penalties so ride the pony while it's hot & dump it when it's not. I don't blame them, but it still doesn't make it right.

Marian Hossa was signed in 2009. The new CBA with the cap recapture penalties went into effect in 2012. In his last season he scored 26 goals and 45 points, so it's not like his career was fizzling out either. I'm sure most Hawk fans (and management) would prefer a healthy Hossa over the extra 5M in cap space without question.

I don't think that is true if they're making room to bring in Karlsson. Their top 6 would be:

Hedman-Karlsson
Mcdonagh-Coburn
Sergachev-Girardi

It's possible Stralman could be had if nobody wants to take Callahan. After all, Callahan is a fringe player being paid 5.8M now. TB would have to include quite a package to rid themselves of that contract.
- Hawks_49

The Hawks just got rid of a contract for an injured/retired player so I don't see them interested in helping Tampa out. Callahan is a massive burden for a few reasons - he's had offseason surgery for a shoulder injury and I think one for something else. So at best he starts the season on the injured list. He's 33 with another year to run on his big contract. And also while being injured it means he can't be bought out until he gets a clean bill of health.

And last but not least Tampa and Chicago don't ever seem to do deals.

I don't disagree. My point is that TB would still be a contender by replacing Stralman with Karlsson if that's what happens. They were a contender this year and taking out Stralman and bringing in a top tier player makes them better.

They should certainly try to get rid of Callahan and exhaust all options there before even discussing Stralman. But if it comes down to a choice between Stralman and Karlsson, that's not even a debate.
- Hawks_49

I really don't see this team as being one or two players away, so I would actually like to get Callahan ++. I would like it more if he only had one year left on his deal, but it would be nice to use our cap space to restock our prospect pool, and Callahan should get us two very good prospects.

The Hawks just got rid of a contract for an injured/retired player so I don't see them interested in helping Tampa out. Callahan is a massive burden for a few reasons - he's had offseason surgery for a shoulder injury and I think one for something else. So at best he starts the season on the injured list. He's 33 with another year to run on his big contract. And also while being injured it means he can't be bought out until he gets a clean bill of health.

And last but not least Tampa and Chicago don't ever seem to do deals.
- RickJ

Yeah I agree that Callahan is trash at this point. I said he is a fringe player making 5.8M. I don't expect the Hawks to look at him and I don't want them to.

But Anton Stralman is an expiring contract and would provide the Hawks with an excellent top 4 upgrade, as Justin mentions.

The Hawks just got rid of a contract for an injured/retired player so I don't see them interested in helping Tampa out. Callahan is a massive burden for a few reasons - he's had offseason surgery for a shoulder injury and I think one for something else. So at best he starts the season on the injured list. He's 33 with another year to run on his big contract. And also while being injured it means he can't be bought out until he gets a clean bill of health.

And last but not least Tampa and Chicago don't ever seem to do deals.
- RickJ

Teams will do deals if it helps out their team. If Tampa needs to make a deal with the Hawks in order to clear cap for Karlsson, they will do it.

Edit: Just hopefully not Ryan Callahan

Right on Ogi

That is some wishful thinking on the Stralman trade. Why in the world would Tampa include a solid prospect with him? Hes no cap dump...different world from Callahan

I really don't see this team as being one or two players away, so I would actually like to get Callahan ++. I would like it more if he only had one year left on his deal, but it would be nice to use our cap space to restock our prospect pool, and Callahan should get us two very good prospects.
- tvetter

Agreed on the first part. A lot of things need to fall into place/happen for this team to be a contender again, which is fine. That's the way sports go.

Not sure I agree with the second part. I don't think Ryan Callahan is as valuable as you think he is. He has always been an overrated player. Look at his stats for the past three years, I think it would take a team a couple prospects in order to off load Callahan's contract, and get nothing in return.