Hossa goes for the big dough
DETROIT — Central Division opponents were quick to raid the Red Wings' cache of free agents Wednesday. The Blackhawks reeled in premier forward Marian Hossa and fourth-liner Tomas Kopecky. The Blues snared goalie Ty Conklin.
The Wings' hopes of keeping Hossa, a two-way, 40-goal scorer, faded as the start of free agency neared and was dashed just hours after it began when he agreed to a 12-year deal worth $62.8 million, or $5.23 million a season.
"When I look at Chicago team, it's an exciting team," Hossa said. "They are big, they are strong, they are fast. They are young guys. I see a nice future in Chicago. I had a great time in Detroit. I was hoping we could get something done, but with today's economy, it's really hard to sign all of the star players on a team."
The Wings had offered Hossa, 30, 10 years but couldn't top a cap average of $4 million because they already have $54 million committed toward next season's $56.8-million cap.
The Blackhawks signed Kopecky for two years and $2.4 million. St. Louis got Conklin for two years and $2.6 million.
Hossa joins rising young superstars Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, along with a forward corps that includes Patrick Sharp, Dave Bolland and Dustin Byfuglien.
