Marian Hossa Days Until The Blackhawks Season Opener

Apr 3, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks right wing Marian Hossa (81) celebrates after scoring the game winning goal during the shoot out against the Minnesota Wild at the United Center. The Blackhawks won 3-2 in a shoot out. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

Chicacgo Blackhawks Season Opener Countdown – Day #81 – Marian Hossa

We had so much fun doing our Countdown to Faceoff series last season that we decided to do it again. In case you’re new to the series, we’ll do a roster preview as we count down the days until the Chicago Blackhawks Season Opener on October 9th against the Dallas Stars.

It is hard to believe that we are getting closer to the midway point of the off-season, which in turn means we are getting even closer to the start of what should be a very exciting new season! Today is #81 on the countdown, so it is only appropriate that today’s post features the one, the only: Marian Hossa.

Below are his career stats with the Chicago Blackhawks to date:

Regular Season

Games Played – 315

Goals – 125

Assists – 151

Game Winning Goals – 18

More from All Time Blackhawks

Playoffs

Games Played – 73

Goals – 14

Assists – 37

Game Winning Goals – 4

Marian Hossa has donned the Blackhawks sweater since 2009, after parting ways from a one-season stint with the Detroit Red Wings that saw him come very close to a Stanley Cup championship, but lost to his former team by one goal in Game 7.

He would not be denied the following year, as he played an integral part in the successful quest for the first Cup win for Chicago in over half a century. Since then, he has had some ups and downs health-wise. Given his relatively advanced age in the sport (35) and length of time in the NHL, that is to be expected. Yet his production level despite some of these setbacks is practically unparalleled for players in similar circumstances. And he can still undress players almost half his age on a breakaway to tally a short-handed goal.

So while some may speculate that next season may be Hossa’s last one in Chicago, whether he hangs up his skates or joins a different team, I think many fans of the sport (not just Blackhawks fans), and likely Hossa himself, would have a hard time seeing him anywhere else. He isn’t flashy like Patrick Kane, and he isn’t a net-crasher like Andrew Shaw. But Hossa almost seems to get even better with age. He is one of the best (if not the best) two-way players, and he doesn’t show signs of slowing down anytime soon. For that reason, and as long as he can stay reasonably healthy, I would say he has at least another few seasons (and Cup championships) in Chicago before either side would be willing to part ways.

What are your predictions for Marian Hossa’s upcoming season?

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