Ryan Wilson: Looking back at Penguins legend Marian Hossa Looking back at Penguins legend Marian Hossa

Do we think people will get the joke this time?

Correct me if I am wrong. But was Hossa not the first player in NHL history to go to back-to-back-to-back cup finals with three different teams? Pittsburgh, Detroit and Chicago?

Correct me if I am wrong. But was Hossa not the first player in NHL history to go to back-to-back-to-back cup finals with three different teams? Pittsburgh, Detroit and Chicago?
- TheUltimateJet

That's probably true.

1 year in Pitt hardly makes him a Pens legend lol. Always will be known as a Sen & Hawk. Fantastic player. Grats

1 year in Pitt hardly makes him a Pens legend lol. Always will be known as a Sen & Hawk. Fantastic player. Grats
- Nighthawk

Obviously you're not a golfer.

Do we think people will get the joke this time?
- Rinosaur

Nighthawk answered this for me.

"He was one of the smartest, most gifted, and holistic players of his era."

Not a word in the entire article about his defense?? Or is that included in "holistic"?

I'm a big fan of defensive forwards and Hossa was one of the best. I felt pretty stung when he left. I'm not a big fan of mercenaries chasing championships. He finally found a loaded team where he could get his ring.

Love the hockey player (one of my favorites of all-time), but really dislike his actions following his brief stint with the Pens. Maybe the Pens are to blame for not offering him a now-banned 12-year contract?

"He was one of the smartest, most gifted, and holistic players of his era."

Not a word in the entire article about his defense?? Or is that included in "holistic"?

I'm a big fan of defensive forwards and Hossa was one of the best. I felt pretty stung when he left. I'm not a big fan of mercenaries chasing championships. He finally found a loaded team where he could get his ring.

Love the hockey player (one of my favorites of all-time), but really dislike his actions following his brief stint with the Pens. Maybe the Pens are to blame for not offering him a now-banned 12-year contract?
- Hockey66

I agree with what RW stated in his blog; you can't blame a player for making the choices they do. Now, I'm not saying I'm not very curious to know why he didn't choose the Pens, but we have no idea why he did what he did. Maybe he didn't get along with the team, coaching staff, ownership, etc... Maybe he's just not a fan of the city.

Players want to win and there's no reason to fault a player on going where he believes he has the best chance of winning. He wasn't drafted by the Pens. He had no allegiance or obligation to them.

I mean, think of the reverse. How many players get traded at the deadline and don't get re-signed? Should they be bitter towards the team?

Maybe he was chasing "cash"?, Maybe he didn't like the players on Pittsburg?, Maybe he was chasing rings?, Doesn't matter, One of the very best two -way players of his generation. And the Hawks do not win those cups without him.

Maybe he was chasing "cash"?, Maybe he didn't like the players on Pittsburg?, Maybe he was chasing rings?, Doesn't matter, One of the very best two -way players of his generation. And the Hawks do not win those cups without him.

I don't have a problem with Hossa getting in the HoF (he deserves it) nor do I have a problem with anything he did in Pittsburgh aside from his public comments about "having a better chance to win a Cup in Detroit". If he phrases that differently (e.g. "it is the business of the game" or something like that) I don't think anyone in Pittsburgh would have been that upset. I know English isn't his first language but it is still better not to offend an entire fan base by comments off the ice (the most serious rivalries excluded, of course).

Pens fans were in a real dilemma in the 2010 and 2013 finals. Do we want Hossa to get his first and then second Cups or do we want the Flyers and then the Bruins to win the Cup? Without Hossa on the Blackhawks it would have been an easy choice. Most (myself included) went with Hossa and the Blackhawks, holding our noses.

Who could forget Bugsy

I don't have a problem with Hossa getting in the HoF (he deserves it) nor do I have a problem with anything he did in Pittsburgh aside from his public comments about "having a better chance to win a Cup in Detroit". If he phrases that differently (e.g. "it is the business of the game" or something like that) I don't think anyone in Pittsburgh would have been that upset. I know English isn't his first language but it is still better not to offend an entire fan base by comments off the ice (the most serious rivalries excluded, of course).

Pens fans were in a real dilemma in the 2010 and 2013 finals. Do we want Hossa to get his first and then second Cups or do we want the Flyers and then the Bruins to win the Cup? Without Hossa on the Blackhawks it would have been an easy choice. Most (myself included) went with Hossa and the Blackhawks, holding our noses.
- PghPens668771

Who could forget Bugsy
- kfinl170

Yeah Malone was great at that point. One of my all-time favorite Pens goals is when he came back in the game after breaking his nose and they scored the winner with him screening the goalie.

Unfortunately his party hard lifestyle caught up with him shortly after and he didn't have the career he could have.

#1 Pick goes to a loser of the play-in round! L O to the mother-effin L

#1 Pick goes to a loser of the play-in round! L O to the mother-effin L
- Rinosaur

It would suck if the Pens somehow lose to the Habs, but that would be a nice consolation prize.

It would suck if the Pens somehow lose to the Habs, but that would be a nice consolation prize.
- madmike71

If the Penguins lose to Montreal, it will be because they tanked better than Montreal did. The story for Montreal is too perfect. They know they have no chance to win the Cup, word is that Price doesnt even want to play, and the #1 overall pick is a Quebec guy.

I like that the NHL has a lottery system. But they really should've made it so no team in the qualifying round could get the #1 pick. or they shouldve waited until the qualifying round was done in order to have a legitimate lottery.

A lot of people will question whether this was rigged. Not the way I wouldve done it if I were Bettman.

It would suck if the Pens somehow lose to the Habs, but that would be a nice consolation prize.
- madmike71

Um yup. The Pens would quickly become the most hated team in the league by non-Pens fans.

Um yup. The Pens would quickly become the most hated team in the league by non-Pens fans.
- Rinosaur

They pretty much already are haha. For long time now.

"Would become"? We're there myf riend.

Currently watching game 2 of the 2009 Pens vs Caps playoffs. Stall was an amazing penalty killer! Fun to watch!


It's on the NHL Network for anyone intetested...

It would suck if the Pens somehow lose to the Habs, but that would be a nice consolation prize.
- madmike71

I'm assuming that this would go to the play-in loser with the worst record? Or are the spots pre-assigned and they're just not announcing so that no team has an incentive to tank?

I'm assuming that this would go to the play-in loser with the worst record? Or are the spots pre-assigned and they're just not announcing so that no team has an incentive to tank?
- Victoro311

There will be another lotto and each of the losing teams will have a 12.5% chance of winning the 1st overall pick.

I'm assuming that this would go to the play-in loser with the worst record? Or are the spots pre-assigned and they're just not announcing so that no team has an incentive to tank?
- Victoro311

I think each team has a 12.5% chance in this next lottery.

If the Penguins lose to Montreal, it will be because they tanked better than Montreal did. The story for Montreal is too perfect. They know they have no chance to win the Cup, word is that Price doesnt even want to play, and the #1 overall pick is a Quebec guy.

I like that the NHL has a lottery system. But they really should've made it so no team in the qualifying round could get the #1 pick. or they shouldve waited until the qualifying round was done in order to have a legitimate lottery.

A lot of people will question whether this was rigged. Not the way I wouldve done it if I were Bettman.
- SuperHenderson13

This is solely Bettman's decision?

The way I look at it is the Pens lottory protected that 1st pick this year and with the way they were free falling towards the end of the season it was possible they missed it this year. It really was possible they were only 6 points in the good with 13 games left and two teams behind them, Canes and Isles, had a game in hand. If they had missed payoffs they'd of had a chance at picking 1st over all. It's not that crazy to me that any of the losing teams of the play in round get a shot. The draft lottery was poopty luck for Red Wings.

They pretty much already are haha. For long time now.
- MattStrat

I feel like the league-wide Penguins hate has kinda dissipated as Sid has become less of a lightning rod and people find it harder and harder to justify hating him. Also a lot of the hate that came our way during the pre-back to back Cup Sid and Geno Era was how much attention we got despite never doing anything in the post season after 2009. Weirdly, I think actually winning has helped our likability even though most of the time success leads to jealousy.

I don't really know who's the most hated team anymore. The Hawks have sunk into mediocrity, Vancouver isn't insufferable anymore like they were at the hiegth of the Sedin Era. The Flyers aren't really scummy anymore. I feel like Washington is eminently hatable, but they seem to be a league wide darling. Maybe it's still us by default, but I feel like the title of super entitled team that never actually does anything has passed onto the Leafs.