Barely six months ago, the free agency period began and the unrestricted, restricted, and soon-to-be unrestricted were courted by open checkbooks and vast sums of monies that most of us will never see in our lifetimes. This is when athletes become business men, or more accurately financial analysts and begin to dissect themselves like a stock investment. They compare their current value to their future value, and make their decisions based on that and the supply and demand of teams that are pursuing their services. Usually the risk is on the teams who sign them as they are betting that their new free agent acquisition will provide a level of play that equals or surpasses the contract they agreed too.

Last summer two players chose to assume more of that risk... and it may have been a decision they will regret in the future... financially.

Since July 1st, the economy has been ridden into the boards and stomped on like a Pronger 8 game special. Both the United States and Canada are facing some tough times and because of the that, the NHL may need to tighten it's belt and teams will most certainly be less generous with their wallets.

Marian Hossa, last summers prize unrestricted free-agent, who split time between the Atlanta Thrashers and Pittsburgh Penguins the season prior, was due a big pay day. The forward who helped the Penguins to the Stanley Cup Finals was offered 'kill people and get away with it' type money (reportedly the Edmonton Oilers offered him a nine year deal worth $81 million), but rather than chase the dollar, Hossa chose to chase his dream of winning a Stanley Cup. Hossa went on to sign a one-year deal for $7 million with the Detroit Red Wings, the very same team that dispatched him and the Penguins in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Hossa gambled a long-term deal and huge dollars for the chance to play for and win the Stanley Cup in Detroit. The new Red Wing leads his club with 29 points, 15 goals and a +10 rating... and has them on top in the Central and just four points behind the San Jose Sharks... who perhaps should have been the club he signed with instead?

In fairness to Hossa, I do think that regardless of the economy he will have plenty of suitors, and will probably still find a club willing to shell out big time money for him. Will it be in the same range as last summers contracts? We will see.

Marion Gaborik. The Minnesota Wild's premier forward... or is he? Desperate to sign him prior to the start of the season, the Wild pulled out all of the stops, but rumors that Gaborik was seeking $10 million per year forever were abound. The Wild were rumored to be looking to sign him long-term (probably 6-7 years) in the $8 - $9 miilion range.... not too bad right? Not good enough for Gaborik. Talks broke down, and the Wild switched gears from signing him to trading him. The Wild's asking price was too high, and most teams were cautious after watching the Pens trade the farm to get Hossa, and watch him float away after July 1st. Why not wait to sign him next summer as well? Since that contract negotiations broke down, Gaborik has put together a season of Havlatian proportions. Injured early in the season, Gaborik has played just two games and collected 1 goal. He in a sense has not only screwed his team out of any trade scenario, but also screwed himself. See, Gaborik's skills are definitely worth millions of dollars... his groin however isn't worth $5. Aside from last year, when he played 77 games (almost a full season) and collected 83 points (42 goals, 41 assists) Gaborik's career has been consistently interrupted by injury... most notably his groin... with a solid honorable mention to the hip.

Gaborik will most certainly be dealt sometime this year, presumably by the February deadline, but the Wild will not get the lucrative return for him they feel they deserve. Likewise, Marian Gaborik may find that clubs will not be eager to break the bank on a player who makes his living on the Injured Reserved list.

Your friend on ice,
Captain Bosh