Chicago Blackhawks winger Marian Hossa probably felt that his first full offseason in three years would be uneventful. What has transpired during the last couple of weeks before training camp has been anything but ordinary for the 32-year-old Slovakian native.
When the Hawks were eliminated by the Vancouver Canucks in the first round of the playoffs last April, it was the first time Hossa's season had ended before June in three years. He played in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics in the middle of that stretch and had been dinged up from time to time during his first two years wearing the Indian head sweater.
As a Hawk thus far, Hossa has done what’s expected of him when healthy. While many witless hockey fans often criticize Hossa for not scoring as much as he should, those same fans fail to realize how valuable he is as a defensive forward. He is masterful at creating space in all ends of the ice, and it is remarkable how well he uses his 6’1", 208-pound frame to protect the puck.
In the 2009-2010 season Hossa finished with 51 points in 57 games with a solid plus-24 rating. The Hawks of course went on ...
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Article written by Andy Campbell
Marian Hossa: Expect a Big Year from Chicago Blackhawks Winger
September 24th, 2011 by Andy Campbell Leave a reply »
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