Dear Mr. Hossa,

Let me begin by saying that I respect your ability as a hockey player.  As a former draft pick and player for the Ottawa Senators, I saw you skilfully outplay the competition.  One particular play comes to mind when you skated around the Philadelphia zone twice and then scored a goal.  It was very impressive.

Only certain players are allowed to win the Stanley Cup after moving teams for that purpose. And even those are highly scrutinized by the hockey gods.

I also respect you because you brought us Dany Heatley.  I know it was a bit of a shock for you to go to Atlanta, but you helped to create a solid core of offensive players here in Ottawa.  While your time in Atlanta was probably not that much fun, you should feel comfortable that fans in Ottawa were still able to enjoy playoff hockey because of your sacrifice.  So for that I thank you.

Last year, as you might recall, you were traded to Pittsburgh.  You went all the way to the Stanley Cup Final.  You grew a pretty good playoff beard, and you got to play with two of the best players in the game today (Crosby and Malkin just in case you don’t remember).  Although you lost, people in Pittsburgh were pretty excited to have you there, and from what I understand, offered you a lot of money to stay so you could do it all again.

But you signed in Detroit.  You probably remember that too. You said you wanted a chance to win the Stanley Cup, and that’s cool.  Who wouldn’t.  You signed a one-year deal.  That was also very noble of you.  I hope I’m not telling you too much you already know, but you had a good season, and are now one game away from the Stanley Cup Final, for the second year in a row I might add.

Here’s the thing though.  The hockey gods, well they don’t deal to kindly with people messing up their plans.  They are very fickle.  I know this because I saw my team–the Ottawa Senators–not make the playoffs only two years out of the Stanley Cup Final. 

You see, had you signed in Pittsburgh, you probably wouldn’t have made the playoffs this year.  It’s like hockey karma. Pittsburgh would have been just shy because Ray Shero probably wouldn’t have made any significant changes (hiring Dan Blysma for instance) because there was a pretty good core in tact.  He probably wouldn’t have traded for Bill Guerin either.  Or Kunitz.  Basically, there’s a lot that wouldn’t have happened if you would have signed there.

Instead, you went to Detroit, and the hockey gods teased you.  Detroit played well to start the season and into the playoffs, and you probably felt like you made the right choice.  But then the hockey gods revealed their true plan.  They made Pittsburgh a contender again, brought them back to the Stanley Cup Final where you will, barring any unforeseen turnarounds by the Chicago Blackhawks, face your old team again. But guess what.  The Penguins are going to be the ones raising the Cup over their head this time.  Sorry Mr. Hossa.  That’s just how it works. 

Hockey is a funny thing like that.  Remember that time that Ray Bourque went to Colorado and he won the Cup?  It worked because the hockey gods intended it to work that way.  There was no ill will towards Boston.  Even Bruins fans were happy that Bourque won.  But in this situation, Pittsburgh will get the upper hand.

Unfortunately, you really didn’t have much choice in the matter.  If you would have stayed in Pittsburgh, it would have been a disappointment.  By signing in Detroit, it is going to be a disappointment.  I appreciated your honesty when you made that decision.  It wasn’t out of spite or malicious intent, but I think the lesson here is to not try to change what has already been determined.  You will win your Cup one day Mr. Hossa, but it’s going to be when you resign in Ottawa.  Let’s be honest, you know you want to come back here.

Best regards,

Stayclassy.net

Add SC.net on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

• Previous Entry: What would you do, part 5 – Coaching style?
• Next Entry: Coaching vindication: credit to Paul Maurice