Bodog Beat

Marian Hossa is on his way to Hockeytown, USA. (AP Images)

Many expected Marian Hossa - regarded as the finest player in the 2008 NHL Free Agent class - to go to the highest bidder.

Few expected him to take a paycut.

But that's (sorta) what Hossa did on Wednesday, balking at several big-money, long-term deals to sign a one-year, $7.4 million contract with the defending Stanley Cup champs, the Detroit Red Wings.

Hossa opted for the Red Wings for one simple reason — the chance to win a championship — and he thought the Red Wings were consistently competitive, year after year. In fact, it was Hossa and the Pittsburgh Penguins who were bounced in six games in this year's Cup final by the Wings, so it's easy to understand why he jumped on Detroit's board.

Hossa's contract fits nicely into Detroit's payroll this season, because they are well under the salary cap. Next year, the Red Wings run into problems, because both Henrik Zetterberg and Johan Franzen will be unrestricted free agents.

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