In 2009 he was The Traitor. The summer after his stint in Pittsburgh he was the prize of the free agent class, coveted by all. He turned down an $80 million offer from the Edmonton Oilers. He turned down an offer from his new team the Penguins. He said he wanted a ring. He signed his name on a one-year contract offered by the Cup holders, the Red Wings. He felt Detroit gave him the best chance to have his name engraved on Lord Stanley's hardware. He took $8 million instead of eighty.
Pittsburgh felt spurned--and more. The players and front office people didn't say much but the fans were mad as hell, cursing his name. But his logic appeared sound as Detroit cruised through the playoffs and again made the Cup Finals. Then Fate and Irony had a laugh and the Wings drew the Penguins for the second year in a row. It came down to a Seventh Game in Detroit. It seemed like a sure thing. Pittsburgh had managed but two goals in the first three games played at the Joe. He would have his moment. Quebecois Max Talbot and Marc-Andre Fleury had a different agenda. The Cup got raised in Detroit that year, but he had to watch.
Another off-season, another beauty contest. The belle of the ball chose Chicago this time and did it with conviction. He signed a 12-year deal worth $62.8 million. He missed the first quarter of the season due to surgery on his shoulder, but when he returned he was again one of the best forwards in the game. Chicago rolled through the playoffs and found themselves heavy favorites in the Finals against the surprising Philadelphia Flyers. Third time's the charm right? Chicago won a thriller in OT of Game Six and took the series four games to two. The Cup will reside in the Windy City for the first time since 1961.
And sometime this summer his name will be engraved on the Stanley Cup. This year he's Marian Hossa, Stanley Cup Champion.
