Hawks saddened for Hossa
Blackhawks president John McDonough and teammates Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews had similar reactions to the recent developments with Marian Hossa. They were grateful for how he went about his business with the Hawks, and sad about the news he’ll miss the upcoming season — and quite possibly never play again — because of a progressive skin disorder.
“I think it’s just very sad,” Kane said Friday after a tour of the Hawks’ under- construction practice facility. “He’s had a tremendous career, obviously. Hall of Famer, for sure, but he’s done some great things here in Chicago.
“I think, more importantly than as good of a player as he was, he was such a great teammate and a great person. I had the privilege of sitting next to him the past six or seven years in the locker room, so I’ll have memories of us just kind of laughing, all before morning skates and practices, and having good times with him.
“Great human being, sad news, and hopefully it’s nothing that’s career- threatening.”
McDonough said the team was aware Hossa had been battling the skin condition for a while and thinks he’s making the right decision to sit out the season. He spoke with Hossa on Thursday and said Hossa is “certainly appreciative [ of ] how everybody understands.”
Like Kane, McDonough was effusive in his praise of Hossa.
“You’re talking about a guy who might, arguably, be the classiest athlete I’ve ever been around,” McDonough said. “A guy that’s terrific with people, very appreciative for what he has, and we don’t win three Stanley Cups if we don’t have Marian Hossa.
“It was a blow to everybody. We’re still kind of absorbing it, actually. This was a decision that he made, and certainly [ team physician Dr. Michael Terry] and the rest of the organization supported it.”
Kane knew Hossa had the condition, but “I don’t think we knew to an extent that it would be like a whole season missed,” he said.
It makes what Hossa did last season even more impressive; he scored 26 goals at age 38.
“I think it obviously speaks to his character and a testament to what he’s done over the course of his career here in Chicago,” Kane said.
Said Toews: “It’s unfortunate that he had to make that decision at this point in his career, knowing how much more he has left to give. You saw what he was able to do. He’s an ageless wonder that just never seems to get old and never seems to slow down.”
When Hossa was signed in 2009, the Hawks were a good young team but didn’t know how to win big. Hossa helped to take care of that.
“We didn’t really have that veteran that really knew much about winning or going far in the playoffs,” Kane said. “He came in his first year — third year in a row he went to the Stanley Cup [ Final] — and obviously knew a lot about the situation and was a huge presence for our team.”
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