Marion Hossa: Any good ?

[RugbyMuffin]

I know NFL football players like the back of my hand but as you guys know I am still learning NHL players, rules, etc., etc.

The team I follow, Penguins, traded for a guy Marion Hossa. Is he any good?

He unfortunately got hurt in his first game (10 days or so) so I haven't really seen the guy play. I figured I would get the good and the bad from you guys.

I really liked the two guys we traded away to get him. Eric Christieson is a great puck handler/shooter, and Koby Armstrong is a very tough young kid who plays lights out, his only problem was he had Happy Glimore symdrome. Well, he can skate, but he has no aim.

and

How are the yotes doing ? They going to make the playoffs? I hope so!

and

Cool Thing about Hockey #248 - Hockey names. Lots of Z's, Y's, and other crazy concoctions of letters. Like Ivan CZYCHIZICOFF (made up but it sounds like a hockey player).

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

1. Marian Hossa is a great player. He will probably never win an MVP award, but he is a top talent that could be downright scary playing next to Sidney Crosby. He has scored 80 points in a season four times in a row, and last season he hit the 100 point mark. That kind of production is pretty hard to come by. Even though the Pens gave up a lot (including Angelo Esposito who is quite a wild card as a prospect plus a first round pick), it is worth it for a player of Hossa's caliber. The tough part for the Pens is how to sign him. He is a free agent at the end of the season and could cash in on a really long deal (plus the Pens also have to sign Evgeni Malkin, who is a restricted free agent and due for a big payday as well).

2. The Coyotes are kind of struggling at the moment. They aren't out of it, but they're going to have to go on a streak against some tough competition to make the playoffs.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Signing a guy like Hossa in the offseason wouldn't seem like a terrible idea. This team is good defensively and has great goaltending, but almost nobody who can put the puck in the net. Hossa will be expensive but is playing at an extremely high level and would have a major impact on offense.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

1. Marian Hossa is a great player. He will probably never win an MVP award, but he is a top talent that could be downright scary playing next to Sidney Crosby. He has scored 80 points in a season four times in a row, and last season he hit the 100 point mark. That kind of production is pretty hard to come by. Even though the Pens gave up a lot (including Angelo Esposito who is quite a wild card as a prospect plus a first round pick), it is worth it for a player of Hossa's caliber. The tough part for the Pens is how to sign him. He is a free agent at the end of the season and could cash in on a really long deal (plus the Pens also have to sign Evgeni Malkin, who is a restricted free agent and due for a big payday as well)..

Well, I would make sure to take care of Malkin first, but that is Pen's BS and not for your board. Thanks for the information. So I guess Hossa is pretty good. Cool.

2. The Coyotes are kind of struggling at the moment. They aren't out of it, but they're going to have to go on a streak against some tough competition to make the playoffs.

The best of luck. I hope you guys get in.

 

[Stout]

Hey Rugby, I'm a Pens fan too! Have been since the days when Lemieux was great but the Pens still sucked, before the trophies. The addition of Hossa is HUGE. We're going to make a push for the Cup this year. When Crosby went down, our goalie Fleurry was down too. All the talk was about Malkin helping the team stay at .500 until we could get Sid the Kid back. Well, Malkin went berserk, and we're sitting atop the Eastern Conference...AND we just got Sid back, AND we added Hossa and a few other parts. Yep, we're primed for a run, my friend. Sit back and enjoy

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

The last seven goaltenders to win the Stanley Cup are:
JS Giguere
Cam Ward
Nikolai Khabibulin
Martin Brodeur
Dominik Hasek
Patrick Roy
Ed Belfour

Aside from Cam Ward who tore through the playoffs that year, that's a really pristine list of names. I am not confident in MA Fleury (who has been hurt this season) or Ty Conklin to have the kind of ability to add their name to that list. Fleury was the #1 overall pick back in 2003 but really hasn't established himself as the elite goalie many had expected him to be. He still has time to sort that out (and I would be shocked if the Pens didn't win a Cup within the next five years), but I'm guessing that Pittsburgh's goaltending will do them in this year.

 

[Stout]

The last seven goaltenders to win the Stanley Cup are:
JS Giguere
Cam Ward
Nikolai Khabibulin
Martin Brodeur
Dominik Hasek
Patrick Roy
Ed Belfour

Aside from Cam Ward who tore through the playoffs that year, that's a really pristine list of names. I am not confident in MA Fleury (who has been hurt this season) or Ty Conklin to have the kind of ability to add their name to that list. Fleury was the #1 overall pick back in 2003 but really hasn't established himself as the elite goalie many had expected him to be. He still has time to sort that out (and I would be shocked if the Pens didn't win a Cup within the next five years), but I'm guessing that Pittsburgh's goaltending will do them in this year.

If anything does us in this year, that'll be it. Well, that and an inability to win faceoffs. Still, Conklin has played lights-our, Fleury was playing well before injury, and he's played well coming out of injury. It isn't necessarily how great your goalie is, but how well he is playing at the time. Remember Johan Hedburg? No one considers him a great goalie, but he sure helped us to a good run one season.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Hey Rugby, I'm a Pens fan too! Have been since the days when Lemieux was great but the Pens still sucked, before the trophies. The addition of Hossa is HUGE. We're going to make a push for the Cup this year. When Crosby went down, our goalie Fleurry was down too. All the talk was about Malkin helping the team stay at .500 until we could get Sid the Kid back. Well, Malkin went berserk, and we're sitting atop the Eastern Conference...AND we just got Sid back, AND we added Hossa and a few other parts. Yep, we're primed for a run, my friend. Sit back and enjoy

Really ? Cool Beans!

Yeah, I just starting watching so I really have NO idea what I am talking about.

I just learned some of the rules and how the game flows. It is really exciting to say the least.

They Coyotes fans here have been a HUGE help with answering my questions and comments. Highly appreciated by the way.

Strange to find another Cardinal/Penguin fand on the ASFN board. Good stuff.

 

[Stout]

Really ? Cool Beans!

Yeah, I just starting watching so I really have NO idea what I am talking about.

I just learned some of the rules and how the game flows. It is really exciting to say the least.

They Coyotes fans here have been a HUGE help with answering my questions and comments. Highly appreciated by the way.

Strange to find another Cardinal/Penguin fand on the ASFN board. Good stuff.

Western PA represent!

I'm just getting back into hockey because I haven't had cable with any consistency for years. Football was about the only thing I really had time to follow. Like I said, I was a Pens fan since before the Cups, and an avid viewer until I went into the Army. Before I picked it back up last month, I basically knew Sid the Kid (who doesn't?), Malkin, Staal (sp?), and Letang because I heard him in a couple of highlights. And Fleury too. Now, man...I'm to the point where I'm glad we got Hossa but am sad to see Armstrong go. I can appreciate a player like Malone and what he brings. I even like the solid defense that Taffe brings. Am I turning into a hockey fan somehow?