7. Marian Hossa
Jun 18, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; CChicago Blackhawks right wing Marian Hossa (81) kisses the Stanley Cup during the 2015 Stanley Cup championship rally at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports
Stats: 467 GP, 188G, 390P
Height/Weight: 6foot3, 221lbs
Acquired: 1996 NHL Draft (1st Overall)
Hossa is a player very similar to the previously mentioned Chara when discussing his career in Ottawa.
Hossa isn’t remembered for his time in Ottawa, but he did spend 467 games as a Senator. In his career with 1172 games, that is the most with any franchise. However, the role he played in Chicago on three Stanley cup winning teams means Hossa is a career Blackhawk.
And looking back on the trade that shipped Hossa out of town, he shouldn’t have been moved so early on in his career.
The return was Dany Heatley, one of the greatest Ottawa Senators in his own right. But Hossa, still just 24 would turn his early days into Ottawa into one of the 21st centuries greatest Hockey careers. As stated before, Hossa would win three cups in Chicago, and if Ottawa had kept him and built around him, you’d have to think they’d at least have one.
Hossa’s best years in Ottawa came when he was 23 and 24 when he recorded consecutive 80 point years and had 45 goals in his 23-year-old campaign.
While Hossa is remembered as one of the biggest regrets in Senators history, the trade that moved him did in fact bring back an all-star in his prime. Hossa was a great player in his own, no doubt. The trade can be justified but was still a mistake considering how things played out post-2009.
Next: #6. One Of The Team's Greatest Defenders