If Detroit Red Wings Win, Marian Hossa Will be Booed

Veteran forward Kirk Maltby joked that if his Detroit Red Wings win the Stanley Cup on Tuesday night in Pittsburgh then he’ll make absolute sure not to stand anywhere near teammate Marian Hossa.

To say that Hossa’s decision to turn down a lucrative five-year contract extension (worth 35 million) with Pittsburgh in favor of signing with the defending Stanley Cup Detroit Red Wings didn’t go over well with Penguins fans is a gross understatement.

It was only a year ago that this 11- year veteran was cheered wildly after becoming a Penguin at the March trade deadline. Hossa who scored 26 playoff points last spring in helping the Pens go to the Stanley Cup finals caught many in Pittsburgh off guard when he gave his reasons for signing with the Red Wings who coincidently were the team that beat Pittsburgh last spring.

“I made a decision and I hope it’s the right one,” Hossa who last summer signed a one- year contract worth $7.45 million said.

At that time, the 30 year-old took quite a bit of criticism when he admitted that he believed Detroit had a slightly better chance at winning the Stanley Cup and that’s why he signed.

Last week Hossa reiterated what he said last summer and added that he wanted to play with teammates who have won in the past and learn from them. Right away, this six foot one 210 pounder made a positive impression on his teammates who regard him as a key reason to the Wings success this season.

“He’s a great player and he wants to win as much as anyone,” Maltby said. ‘Whether it’s one Cup or if you’re going for your fifth, you’re going to play hard. That’s what he’s done for us up to now.” Detroit Coach Mike Babcock believes that Hossa who has struggled in the finals with only three assists might be pressing due to the mounted pressure of playing his former team and being booed in Pittsburgh every time he touches the puck.

“I think he’s really pleased with his decision,” (coming to Detroit) Babcock said. “In some ways, it’s probably as difficult a situation as it could have been for him. There are a lot of other teams we could be playing and it would have been easier and we wouldn’t be talking about this stuff.”

Hossa will once again be a free agent on July 1. That right now isn’t on the Red Wings mind as they are only one win away from winning their 12th Cup in franchise history and fifth since 1997.

“You want to go in and have a good, solid road game,” Maltby said. “They’re going to come out with their best effort and it’s a matter of how we answer the bell.”