NHL's Top 50: Marian Hossa (No. 15)

FanHouse's Adam Gretz takes a look at his top 50 players in the NHL. No. 15 is Chicago Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa.

After signing a one-year deal with the Detroit Red Wings prior to the 2008-09 season, Marian Hossa was the focal point of this year's Stanley Cup Final against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Hossa was a key component in Pittsburgh's trip to the Final the previous season, where they were knocked off by the Red Wings in six games. He turned down a lucrative contract offer from the Penguins to sign with Detroit because, in his mind, the Wings gave him a better opportunity to win the cup.

It's hard to blame him, seeing as how the Red Wings were an already stacked team, and would be adding one of the game's best two-way players. In the end, Hossa went home without the Cup, again coming up inches short in the final seconds.

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He quickly found a new team this offseason, signing a gigantic contract with Chicago, guaranteeing that the Blackhawks will be the Stanley Cup runner-up for the next 12 years.

The Numbers: Marian Hossa Marian Hossa Goals Assists Points Pim Career Totals 339 380 719 458 Average Per 82 Games 36.0 40.1 76.2 48.3

Draft Year: 1997

Taken 12th overall by the Senators, Hossa has 63 more goals than any other player selected in 1997. He was traded to Atlanta after the 2003-04 season (for Dany Heatley) where he spent parts of three seasons before being sent to Pittsburgh for Angelo Esposito, Colby Armstrong, Erik Christensen and a first-round pick.

Why He's On My List

A fantastic two-way player, Hossa has scored at least 30 goals in seven of his past eight seasons (he had 29 the year he didn't score 30) and is equally strong defensively, which is one of the reasons I took him before a player like Dany Heatley, the No. 16 player. He's a four-time All-Star and has finished in the top-five in goals scored three times.

Obligatory YouTube Video

Hossa with a highlight reel goal against one of his former teams, the Atlanta Thrashers, in October 2008.