Hossa, a terrific two-way player who came to the Pittsburgh Penguins at the trade deadline last season and the star of this year's free-agent market, had multiyear offers of anywhere between $7 million and $10 million a season, if you believe the reports.
Instead, Hossa signed a one-year deal for $7.45 million to play for the Detroit Red Wings, who defeated the Penguins in the Stanley Cup Finals this season.
With one swipe of the pen on this contract, Hossa left about $40 million on the table, making this deal possibly the most unusual free-agent signing in the history of professional sports.
That's how this scenario played out just two days after the free agent season began Tuesday.
Some columnists praised Hossa for foregoing a huge paycheck to win a Stanley Cup title, something the Red Wings accomplished with a talented, but aging, team, last season.
But Detroit reportedly offered a multiyear deal that Hossa turned down. It was Hossa's agent, Rich Winter, who approached Red Wings management about a possible one-year agreement.
Wonder how that call went?
Pretty quick, I bet.
When it was over, Detroit general manager Ken Holland got one of the game's top scorers and a great defender on the cheap. More important, Holland rips him from the hands of the Penguins, the most likely team to derail the Red Wings' chances of winning back-to-back titles.
Most assume Hossa will sign a long-term deal with the Red Wings after this season, but don't bet on it. Detroit will find itself in a situation similar to the one the Penguins had this year, with three of its top players headed for free agency: centers Henrik Zetterberg and Johan Franzen and winger Mikael Samuelsson.
And, of course, Hossa, who could earn $10 million a year with his next trip to free agency.
The Red Wings already have $38 million committed to the 2009-10 season. Even if the salary cap goes up after next season, Detroit will only have about $20 million and that won't cover those four players.
While Hossa took a lower amount to play for the Red Wings to win a championship, he should consider this: Over the last decade, no team has managed to repeat.
The Penguins rebounded from the loss of Hossa by wrapping up goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury for seven years and signing solid forwards in Miroslav Satan and Ruslan Fedotenko to one-year deals each.
If everything works out for Hossa, the Red Wings repeat. But it's a 50-50 proposition Hossa would return. He is taking some dramatic risks.
He could be injured, which is a danger every player takes in these situations.
The Red Wings might not repeat, leaving them with some difficult salary decisions after the season. Hossa could enter the free agent market again with the league's best two teams - Detroit and Pittsburgh - not interested, or able, to sign him.
Hossa has probably burned his bridge back to Pittsburgh after he turned his nose up at their offer, angering general manager Ray Shero.
So it's win the title with Detroit, or make a massive money grab in free agency after the season.
On second thought, maybe there's nothing wrong with that cream.
Assistant sports editor Joe Tuscano can be reached at jtuscano@observer-reporter.com