Fansided

Is Marian Hossa a surefire Hall of Famer?

By Brad Berreman

CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 15: Marian Hossa #81 of the Chicago Blackhawks looks down the ice in the first period against the Nashville Predators in Game Two of the Western Conference First Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the United Center on April 15, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The Nashville Predators defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 5-0. (Photo by Bill Smith/NHLI via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 15: Marian Hossa #81 of the Chicago Blackhawks looks down the ice in the first period against the Nashville Predators in Game Two of the Western Conference First Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the United Center on April 15, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The Nashville Predators defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 5-0. (Photo by Bill Smith/NHLI via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Marian Hossa has declared he’s done as a player, but what are his Hall of Fame chances?

Chicago Blackhawks winger Marian Hossa missed all of this past season with a skin condition brought on by an equipment allergy, which threw his future as a player into question. Now, according to the Chicago Sun Times, Hossa told a newspaper in his native Slovakia he is done playing.

“I will not play hockey anymore, “I have a valid contract with Chicago for the next three years, but I have only one health and it does not allow me to return.”

But Hossa will move back to his native country but not officially retire, with three years left on his contract, since the Blackhawks can get hit with substantial recapture penalties if he signs retirement papers. With an actual salary of just $1 million ($5.275 million cap hit) in each of the years remaining on his deal, a trade to a team that needs to reach the salary cap floor is a potential option for Chicago.

Just last month, Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman confirmed Hossa’s status was unchanged. Which is to say, he was not expected to play next season.

In 19 NHL seasons, Hossa will finish with 1,134 points (525 goals) in 1,309 regular season games. He won three Stanley Cups with the Blackhawks, with an additional 149 points in 205 playoff games. Those are very good credentials, but is Hossa a surefire Hall of Famer?

Hossa is regarded as one the best two-way forwards of his generation. There’s no better evidence of that than his annual place in voting for the Selke Trophy, given each year to the top defensive forward in the NHL, despite never winning it. Even in his last season, at age 38 by the end of it, Hossa finished 14th in the voting for the Selke Trophy. His career plus-minus is in the top-40 all-time as well.

Next: 5 free agents to help the Florida Panthers back to playoffs

Hossa has longevity, scoring production (three 40-plus goal seasons) and being an important part of three Stanley Cup winners on his Hall of Fame resume. That looks like a slam-dunk case.

Home/Chicago Blackhawks