Pittsburgh Penguins: Marian Hossa Blockbuster Trade Finally Paying Off?

The biggest trade acquisition this year was the trade Pittsburgh Penguins GM Ray Shero made with Atlanta Thrashers GM Don Waddell. 

This trade sent the grinder Colby Armstrong, the shootout king Erik Christensen and some unknown talent in Angelo Esposito. Meanwhile the Penguins received the All-Star Marian Hossa, and speedy Pascal Dupius. The Penguins also traded the Toronto Maple Leafs for Hal Gill.

Now the trade for Hossa was a cross-your-fingers-and-hope-he-pays-off kind of trade.  Especially because they traded away one beloved player, another who was pretty much automatic shootout star and one who we don't even know could be amazing.

Of course with the luck the Penguins were having this season with injuries, the team lost Hossa only 13 shifts into his first game.  This was a devastating blow to the Penguins, since they were already missing Sidney Crosby and Gary Roberts.

Thank God the injury wasn't serious, and it only took a few weeks before he and Sid could get used to each other on a line with Pascal Dupuis.

In the regular season it was looking like "Hoss" wasn't going to pay off at all, only recording 10 points (3g, 7a) in 12 games.

When playoffs started, Pittsburgh finally got a taste of what a trade Shero made and actually why he made it—to get to the Stanley Cup finals and win!

In 13 playoff games Hossa has recorded 15 points, 8 goals, and 7 assists.  Those goals couldn't come at better times, scoring two game winning goals, and two goals in the 5th game against the Rangers in OT to lead the Penguins to the Conference finals.

Today at 3 P.M. EST the Penguins will look to finish off their cross-state rivals in 5 games.  This will only happen of course if the Penguins come out flying, get the first goal, play more physical and use the crowd to their advantage. 

If that doesn't happen unfortunately it's going to go back to the city of brotherly love for game 6.