Rangers Retain Hossa: “After realizing what a mess arbitration can be the New York Rangers and Marcel Hossa announced they have reached an agreement on a one-year $780,000 deal according to the team’s website.

The Slovakian and the team avoided an arbitration hearing which was set for this Thursday. Hossa was the last of the restricted free-agents the Blue Shirts needed to sign assuming the team agrees to the result of Sean Avery’s arbitration hearing.

The 25-year old Hossa reached a career high 18 points last season and was key during the stretch run scoring 13 of his points in his final 15 games. He played a vital roll during the shootout leading the team with 3 decisive game winners. The most notable came against the New Jersey Devils and Martin Brodeur on January 2nd. In the playoffs last season he had a pair of goals and assists and played strong all around hockey managing a plus-five rating in 10 games.

Originally drafted by the Montreal Canadians in the first round of the 2000 draft Hossa was traded to the Rangers in 2005 for Garth Murray. The left winger earned $600,000 last season. He has 20 goals in his two seasons with the Rangers.

This season Hossa will be an important player who will likely see most of his ice time on the third line, but it is possible that he will be playing left wing on the Jagr line where he has had most of his success. If he does play well on the third line it would mean a lot for the Rangers season who are already coming under fire for only being strong on the front two lines ever since the departure of Matt Cullen.”

(via In The Dirt.)