Marian Hossa signs 12-year deal with Hawks By MIKE ZEISBERGER, Sun Media

Marian Hossa has signed a 12-year, US$62 million deal with the Chicago Blackhawks. (Sun Media/Dave Abel) Who were the big winners at the start of the NHL's free-agent frenzy?

Marian Hossa blew into the Windy City today, a place he will plant his hockey roots for a long time.

The Chicago Blackhawks shocked the hockey world by inking Hossa, 30, to a whopping 12-year deal worth $62 million US, averaging just over $5 million per season. Hossa, for the record, will be 42 by the time the deal runs its course.

The Blackhawks created cap space to fit in Hossa by allowing forward Martin Havlat to walk away as an unrestricted free agent.

Hossa has scored 339 goals in 775 NHL games with the Ottawa Senators, Atlanta Flames, Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings.

Of the whopping contract, the Hawks reportedly are only on the hook for $9 million over the final five years of the deal, meaning Chicago could buy him out at a reasonable price at that time.

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