NHL Rumors: Marian Hossa, if the Gloves Don't Fit...

 It would seem the rumors of a deal between Montreal and the Atlanta Thrashers for star right-winger Marian Hossa are a little premature.

Montreal's La Presse newspaper reported on Thursday that equipment had been seen in and around the Bell Center sporting the name Hossa.  More specifically, a pair of gloves of the blue, blanc et rouge variety, Hossa emblazoned across the leather.

It prompted a massive front-page headline, a picture of Marian Hossa, colorful font screaming out, "Hossa Se Rapproche de Montréal" or loosely translated, "Hossa closer to Montreal." 

It seems, however, the paper forgot that Marian Hossa has got a brother who also plays in the NHL. A brother who happened to be at the Bell Center the night before, one Marcel Hossa who happens to play for a team that also uses the colours red, white, and blue.  

As it turns out, the gloves were for the former Hab, dropped off at the Bell Center for Marcel by an equipment company representative.  

One can forgive La Presse for the story. It's hard not to get caught up in all the trade rumors and in this day and age, you want to lead the news, not follow it. Still, perhaps a little more research was required.  

Despite all of this, Marian Hossa may still be destined to come to Montreal, but don't expect any movement on that front until trade deadline day.  GM Bob Gainey has got a big weekend ahead—not only will be he working the trade lines, his number 23 will be retired to the rafters on Saturday. 

Other media reports, however, do indicate a deal is imminent regarding Michael Ryder. 

Those mysterious sources say Gainey is working two deals for the recently surging right-winger but would not elaborate. The obvious teams in the mix are Atlanta and the Calgary Flames but one never knows what Gainey has up his sleeve.

Any rumors coming out of Montreal are certainly not coming out of Gainey's office, a man who is known to be very tight-lipped about the behind-the-scenes operations of the team. 

Whatever angle Gainey is working, Habs fans are likely going to have to wait until the 26th to find out what it is. In the meantime, while I'm sure Gainey is mighty proud to have his number raised to the rafters of the Bell Center, he'd be even more pleased to see the team's 25th Stanley Cup banner hanging next to it.