With just three more days until his scheduled arbitration hearing, Marcel Hossa and the Rangers have agreed to a one year, $780,000 contract. The contract is a modest raise over last year’s $600,000 figure and is reflective of the desire for the Rangers to continue to give the benefit of the doubt to the inconsistent forward.
Hossa is coming off a season where he once again showed why Tom Renney has been willing to try and accommodate the Slovak in the line-up. With an injury to Martin Straka mid-way through the season, Hossa stepped into the vacant first line position and reeled off 8 goals and 5 assists in fifteen games, before injuring his knee and missing the remainder of the regular season.
The 25 year old returned for the first game of the playoffs and added another two goals in ten games. His total of 10 goals, equalled his best output in the NHL, a mark he set in 2005-06 also with the Rangers, while his totals of 8 assists and 18 points were new career highs.
Hossa is expected to begin the season on the third or fourth line, but may see an opportunity for more ice time if Martin Straka‘s shoulder is unable to withstand the rigors of the regular season.