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Thursday, January 17, 2008
Hossa talks contract
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Pinch hitting for Craig today, and feeling a little French Canadian flavor around the rink this morning. Lots of media in from Montreal, lots of questions for Marian Hossa about his contract negotiations.
First off: as Craig mentioned in earlier blogs, the TSN report was wrong that Hossa had shut off talks with the Thrashers. Hossa reiterated this morning, talks are ongoing. “Definitely we are,” he said, when asked if he and his agent were still talking with the Thrashers.
In fact, the talks haven’t progressed yet to terms: money and length of contract. Basically the six or seven conversations Don Waddell has had with Hossa’s agent Ritch Winter have centered on the intentions of the Thrashers organization and how they’re set up this year and on down the line.
Hossa wants to win.
You figure the money will come if he decides he wants to stay. Waddell said as much: “If he wants to be here, we’ll find something.”
As for Hossa? He says: “I’m 29. There are four or five years in your prime. My goal is to win the Stanley Cup. To do it [you have to be] on a good team. So I want to take my time. I want to make sure if I sign here, it’s a good decision. That’s why it’s taking so long. It’s a big step for me, and the organization. We’re trying to make the best of it.”
With six weeks to go before the trading deadline, this will all get figured out soon. In the meantime, the relationship appears very cordial and the fact that they’re still talking means the Thrashers still have a shot.
“We got some big pieces in this organization, key pieces,” Hossa said. “That’s a good sign. We’ve just got to prove it on an every day basis.”
Waddell knows winning only helps.
“It may be easier to sign him because the team is doing better,” Waddell said. “It shows him that we’re a pretty good hockey club when we play as a unit….If we were out of the playoffs - the whole thing - if I’m him, I’d say ‘get me out of here. I want to go to a playoff team and have a chance to win.’”
Thrashers look for active market
And on the trading deadline front? Back-to-back wins over Pittsburgh and Detroit and moving into a first-place tie in the Southeast Division has Waddell feeling good. You guys should, too. The Thrashers figure to be buyers on Feb. 26.
“Last year we were buyers,” Waddell said. “I expect to be the same this year. As every team if you can pick up another defenseman, certainly that would be on our wish list, and possibly another forward.… We will be active come trade deadline time, which actually starts now, hoping to shore up our ball club.”
