Hawks get Hossa in free agent signing frenzy

By Steve Keating

TORONTO (Reuters) - The Chicago Blackhawks went on a free agent shopping spree Wednesday, signing high-scoring winger Marian Hossa to a staggering 12-year deal that signaled they are ready to challenge for a Stanley Cup.

Just hours after the free agent signing window had opened at noon EDT, the Blackhawks had their wallets out, luring Hossa away from the Detroit Red Wings with a contract worth $62.8 million according to local media reports.

Hossa was joined in the Windy City by fellow Slovak and Red Wing team mate Tomas Kopecky, who signed a two-year deal.

"To add Marian, an elite and world-class player, and Tomas, a Stanley Cup champion, to our exciting young core reinforces our commitment to try to win the Stanley Cup," Blackhawks general manager Dale Tallon said in a statement.

Hossa, who led Detroit with 40 goals last season, brings a veteran scoring touch to a dynamic young Chicago team that made it to the Western conference finals this year before falling to the Red Wings.

It is the third team in as many seasons for the 30-year-old forward, who has played in the last two Stanley Cup finals but is yet to win a championship.

In 2008, Hossa was a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins who lost the title to Detroit.

The four-time all-star jumped to the Red Wings last season believing it was his best chance to hoist the Stanley Cup, only to lose the final to his former team the Penguins.

Taken with the 12th overall pick by the Ottawa Senators in the 1997 draft, Hossa has 339 goals and 719 points in a career that has also included a stop in Atlanta.

SEDIN TWINS

Just before the NHL free agent signing window opened, the Vancouver Canucks inked Swedish twins Daniel and Henrik Sedin to identical five-year deals worth $30.5 million according to local media reports.

Selected by Vancouver with second and third overall picks in the 1999 NHL draft, Daniel and Henrik tied for the Canucks scoring lead last season with 82 points.

The Canucks, however, said goodbye to veteran defenseman Mattias Ohlund, who moved to the Tampa Bay Lightning on a seven-year contract worth a reported $24 million.

Ohlund, taken 13th overall by the Canucks in the 1994 draft, had spent his entire career in Vancouver scoring 93 goals and 325 points.

The Anaheim Ducks strengthened their blueline, signing captain Scott Niedermayer to a one-year contract while the Toronto Maple Leafs added some toughness inking enforcer Colton Orr to a four-year $4 million deal.  Continued...