Hossa’s long deal tops busy day around NHL

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Just when the slowing global economy figured to put a crimp in spending for NHL free agents, Marian Hossa hit the open market again.

And instead of taking a discount on a one-year deal to take a shot at a Stanley Cup title, Hossa cashed in a megadeal with the up-and-coming Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday.

A few hours after the NHL free-agent season was open for business, the Blackhawks said goodbye to Martin Havlat and set their sights on Hossa. It didn’t take long to come to terms on a 12-year, $62.8 million contract.

It was the headline move on the typically busy first day of free-agent shopping.

The New York Rangers landed the second biggest prize of the day, signing high-scoring forward Marian Gaborik away from the Minnesota Wild.

The NHL salary cap rose only $100,000 from last season to $56.8 million. With concerns that the financial crisis could strike the league harder this season, and force the 2010-11 cap to drop, the belief was teams would be more cautious about entering into long-term deals.

The Blackhawks didn’t seem too concerned, and will absorb a cap hit on Hossa’s contract of $5.23 million.

“We haven’t used the [unrestricted free agent market] that often because it’s when you get the most onerous contracts with the most unfavorable term,” San Jose Sharks general manager Doug Wilson said. “I’ve used the term irrational exuberance that takes place at this time of year.”

Hossa left the Eastern Conference champion Pittsburgh Penguins last summer to join the defending champion Detroit Red Wings — saying he believed that gave him the best chance to win the Stanley Cup. But the Penguins dethroned the Red Wings last month in the rematch, leaving Hossa in second place again.

“Now I don’t have to worry about dealing with it year-to-year. I’m set for 12 years. That will make it easier and I can focus on hockey,” Hossa said.

Hossa is joining the Blackhawks, his fourth team since the 2008 season, and their stable of young stars headlined by Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane.

It ended the Chicago tenure of Martin Havlat, who hadn’t found a new home by Wednesday night. The Blackhawks also let goalie Nikolai Khabibulin go, watching him sign a four-year deal with the Edmonton Oilers.

After marathon negotiations in Sweden, the Canucks finally reached matched deals to retain identical twins Henrik and Daniel Sedin — the team’s leading scorers last season with 82 points.

Right before the pair reached the open market, they each signed five-year, $30.5 million contracts.

“We really like it in Vancouver and that’s where we wanted to stay,” Henrik said.

Defenseman Mattias Ohlund couldn’t say the same as he left the Canucks after 11 seasons to sign a seven-year contract with the Lightning.

The Canadiens were busy for a second straight day, signing former Flames forward Mike Cammalleri to a five-year, $30 million deal, and defensemen Jaroslav Spacek and Hal Gill.

Forward Mike Rupp left the Devils and agreed to a two-year, $1.6 million contract with the Penguins.