It looks like the Hawks big offseason prize, winger Marian Hossa, is set to make his Blackhawks debut next week. Hossa is targeting next Wednesday in San Jose for his return, but it may be more likely that he plays next Friday in Anaheim or Saturday in Los Angeles.
My hockey chubby is awakening. Visions of Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, and Hossa skating on a line together makes my knees weak.
I can see Willie Mitchell from Vancouver breaking his stick in frustration as another goal slips past Greasy Bob Luongo. Picture it...a shootout in Detroit. The toothless, mulleted Red Wings fans standing and booing as the Hawks blonde haired sniper heads to the net, and buries the puck with a swagger never seen before. Oh it's coming. Get ready Chicago.
Yeah. I sound like a fan. Well, that's what I am. One of the top teams in the Western Conference is about to add one of the top 5 wingers in the game. Hossa is that good.
He's scored 40 goals three times in his career, including last season in Detroit. In 98 playoff games, he has 31 goals. He's a complete player. He has the skill to score all these goals, but he's also committed to defense. He's +112 for his career.
Coach Q has been skating Hossa on a line with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. That is a lethal combination. When Toews is the 3rd biggest offensive threat on a line, that's hard to stop.
Hossa will add a dimension this team hasn't had in a long time. I guess he'd be the combination of Jeremy Roenick and Tony Amonte. He's not as physical as Roenick, but he's more defensively responsible than Amonte was. Whoever you compare him to, he's as good as (and probably better than) any current Blackhawk player.
The team that could already be the best is about to get much, much better.
Enjoy some Marian Hossa goals here!
Filed under: Blackhawks, Chicago Sports, danny mac show, hockey, jonathan toews, marian hossa, NHL, Patrick Kane, sports, vancouver canucks, wscr
Tags: blackhawks, chicago sports, hockey, jonathan toews, marian hossa, NHL, patrick kane
Hossa, Kane, and Toews will probably only skate together during the power play, so holster your chubby Jay.
Don't get your Hossa chubby just yet. He did have major shoulder surgery and it will take time for him to get his confidence back in taking the hits. I don't expect much of him except on the power play initially. Also remember that he played with 2 great players last year in Detroit and he needs to be set up to score consistantly.
Hossa will be playing with two pretty good players with the hawks (kane & Toews) I think he'll be alright. It won't happen right away but it will be fantastic. Very excited about this.
Gator and Ronnie : The Hawks have MARIAN Hossa, not Marcel. He needs to be set up to score? Come on guys. He's one of the top 5 wingers in hockey. You act like he's Sergei Berezin or something. I guess we'll see, but I'd be shocked if he doesn't end the season with more points than Havlat overall.
Jay,I'm not down-playing Hossa at all. I worship his abilities, I'm just not sure how much we'll see him with Toews and Kane during 5 on 5, but who knows? The Hawks are deep enough that the other lines can still light it up.
Hossa is a super star and will improve any line he skates on. Beleive me, I'm not trying to be a wet blanket, I've been counting down the days until his return.
Some thoughts:
1. Hossa will play sparingly 5-on-5 with Kaner and Toews. We have all seen that Coach Q will not put all his eggs in one basket. All Hossa needs is a good center (should have been Bolland, will be Toews). In hockey you look for balance when constructing lines, not just putting all the stars on one line. Dumb.
2. Hossa is not "probably better" than any current Hawk. He is.
3. RLB Ronnie is totally right. He will need a couple of games to get into the swing of things. Don't rip him if he doesn't "wow" you in his first week.
4. Of course he'll score more than Havlat. Havlat has had 3-4 groin flare-ups this season, and is playing with an offensive albatross called the Minnesota Wild. That's like saying "i bet he'll have more points than David Booth."