Having a player play for your team that is in the Hockey Hall of Fame can be a great honor for a franchise. For the Ottawa Senators, one former player who played for the franchise who is in the Hockey Hall of Fame is Marian Hossa.
Hossa played 19 seasons in the NHL for five different teams and recorded 1,134 career points. The first team Hossa ever played for was the Senators. Hossa's tenure in Ottawa ended when he was traded to the then Atlanta Thrashers in 2005 in part of the Dany Heatley trade.
Although he was traded away, Hossa's tenure in Ottawa was a strong one looking back on it. Although most hockey fans may remember Hossa more as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks, it's time for the Senators to give Hossa the recognition he deserves with his Senators career.
Hossa has reason to be inducted into Senators Ring of Honour
One reason why a jersey retirement might be too much for Hossa at the moment is because his jersey number 18 is worn currently by Senators forward Tim Stutzle. With how his career has gone thus far, Stutzle has a solid chance to have his number 18 be retired one day by the Senators. That leaves another option for the Senators to give Hossa the recognition he deserves as a Senator with inducting him into the Senators Ring of Honour.
After playing in seven games in the 1997-98 season, Hossa's career took off the following season when he made the 1999 All-Rookie Team. After recording 30 points in 1998-99, Hossa then recorded 56 points in 1999-00.
In the following 2000-01 season, Hossa made the All-Star Game for the first time in his career and recorded 76 points during the season.
2003 was a special year for Hossa and the Senators. Hossa made his second All-Star Game and the Senators won the President's Trophy. Hossa was a big part for the Senators winning the President's Trophy with recording 80 points and setting career-high 45 goals. Unfortunately for Hossa and the Senators, they were eliminated in a brutal seven-game series loss to the New Jersey Devils in the Eastern Conference Finals.
2003-04 was Hossa's last in Ottawa, but it was another solid one. Hossa set a then career-high 82 points and 46 assists during the season.
In the end, Hossa's numbers in Senators history are solid to be recognized for a Ring of Honour spot for a player who played seven seasons with the organization. Hossa is fifth in Senators history with 188 goals, and eighth in Senators history with 390 points.
The fact that Hossa is part of the Hockey Hall of Fame could be an advantage to help get recognition to be in the Ring of Honour. Recognizing a Hall of Fame player with inducting him in the Ring of Honour would give Hossa his recognition for his work, talent and accomplishments with the Senators organization.