Detroit — Mike Babcock remembers Marian Hossa from the 1997 World Juniors, when Babcock was coach of the Canadian team and Hossa was a 17-year-old forward for Slovakia.

Hossa had five goals and seven points in six games, leaving a lasting impression on the man who now will be his coach. The Wings signed Hossa, 29, to a one-year deal Wednesday worth $7.4 million.

Hossa saw the Wings up close last month, when his Pittsburgh Penguins lost to Detroit in the Stanley Cup finals.(The Thrashers sent Hossa to Pittsburgh right at the trade deadline in February.) Hossa scored three goals and had seven points during the six-game finals series, whetting the Wings' desire to add him to their already impressive lineup. When Hossa became an unrestricted free agent Tuesday, general manager Ken Holland called Hossa's agent, Rich Winter (also the agent for former Wings goalie Dominik Hasek) and offered a long-term deal. That, however, was scuttled because Hossa was getting staggering long-term offers from several other teams, including Pittsburgh. One rumor had the Oilers offering Hossa nine years and $81 million.

Wednesday morning, Winter called Holland while he was at a Mobil gas station and said Hossa was willing to work out something for one year. The Wings, in turn, got Hossa to agree to take just a touch less than Nicklas Lidstrom, whose $7.45 million salary serves as the team's individual cap number.

"I wanted to have the best chance to win the Stanley Cup," Hossa said. "I know I could get more money somewhere else, but I was looking for best chance to win Stanley Cup, and I think Detroit is that destination.

"It wasn't easy to turn that money away, but it's how I decide. We'll see at end of next year how I decide."

Hossa was attracted by the thought of playing next to Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg, and found Detroit's overall depth a heady attraction.

"I just felt total package is better in Detroit, and I have better chance to win," Hossa said.

Both Hossa and Holland said they hope this can evolve into a long-term relationship. The Wings, though, have to keep money free to re-sign Zetterberg and Johan Franzen, both of whose contracts expire next summer.

"We wanted to add another forward that can fit into our top six," general manager Ken Holland said. "He's in our top three. It was a deal we couldn't pass up. He is taking all the risk to come onto our team. It shows he's a first-class, quality person. He made tremendous sacrifices to put on a Red Wings uniform. Without him wanting to be a Red Wing, this day would never have happened."

Once the Wings sign restricted free agent Valtteri Filppula, they will have 12 forwards signed to NHL contracts. Holland said Hossa's signing renders it highly unlikely that Mats Sundin also will be coming to Detroit, since the Wings' cap number is now just under $53 million, leaving little room below the $56.7 million ceiling. Also a one-year, $850,000 deal for Chris Chelios could be announced within days.

Holland would like to add an enforcer but isn't sure Darren McCarty or Aaron Downey will buy into a two-way contract (wherein a player receives less money if demoted to the minors). The Wings want to leave room for Ville Leino, a talented Finnish forward signed this spring, to possibly make the Detroit squad.

Meanwhile, Babcock finally gets the opportunity to coach Hossa.

"I've seen him since he was a kid," Babcock said. "He's determined. He's got will. He can skate. He's got size. He's solid defensively. I thought in the series against Pittsburgh he was their best player. I thought he was dangerous all the time.

"He fits into our philosophy in that he wants to win. He's a two-way player like Pav and Z, and what I mean by that is he's as good with the puck as without. To me, he's one of the top 15 forwards in the game."

Holland said if the Wings don't do anything else this summer, he's comfortable with the team they have. That, in light of a lineup that boasts luminaries like Lidstrom, Datsyuk, Zetterberg and now Hossa, might be something of an understatement.