Marian Hossa May Play On Wednesday

As I wrote about yesterday, it's time for Chicagoans to hitch themselves to the Blackhawks bandwagon.  They're by far the best thing this city has going for it in the sports world -- and possibly best thing going period -- and there's another aspect about the team I didn't touch on yesterday that makes this team more exciting.

They've racked up the second best record in the conference and have won seven in a row, and they've done all this without their big free-agent signing over the summer, Marian Hossa.

Which may change as soon as Wednesday night as word is that the Hawks $60 million man will be making his debut against the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday night.

While Hossa is having a good time off the ice, he's yearning to get back on it, and that time has come as he is expected to make his Hawks debut Wednesday night against the Sharks.


Hossa has been sidelined since undergoing shoulder surgery 23 days after signing a 12-year, $62.8 million free-agent contract with the Hawks on July 1.


"This has been the first time I've ever missed training camp or the beginning of the season, and it's definitely not fun," said Hossa, who led the Wings with 40 goals last season.


"I think all systems are go," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "(Hossa) hasn't played in a long time and hopefully he can just help us. We felt there was an upgrade in our practices when he joined us. He can make plays. We like the way he competes and ... on both sides of the puck he does a lot of good things."

Considering that the Hawks are already one of the most potent offenses in the NHL -- they're tied for sixth in the NHL with 3.09 goals per game -- adding a scorer like Hossa to the mix will only make them more dangerous.

This is a man who hasn't scored less than 29 goals in a season since the 1999-2000 season when he was in Ottawa.  He's also eclipsed the 40 goal mark three times in his career, including with the Detroit Red Wings last season.

I do worry a little about trying to work him in during a game against the Sharks, as there is likely to be a bit of an adjustment period for both Hossa and his teammates as they get used to playing with each other, but admittedly, it's not that big of a deal.