Hossa and Jarome Iginla were the first-ballot Hall of Famers from the 2020 class.
Former Chicago Blackhawks winger and three-time Stanley Cup champion Marian Hossa is officially a first-ballot Hall of Famer. The hall elected Hossa in his first year of eligibility, even though he’s still technically under contract with the Arizona Coyotes. Hossa was forced to retire from professional hockey after the 2016-17 season due to a skin condition.
Hossa signed a 12-year contract with the Blackhawks in the summer of 2009 after losing back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings. Hossa’s decision paid off immediately, as he finally won a Stanley Cup with the Hawks in 2010. The Slovakian forward went on to win two more Cups with the team in 2013 and 2015, playing a significant role in both.
In total, Hossa played in 1,309 career NHL games with the Ottawa Senators (1998-2004), Atlanta Thrashers (2005-08), Pittsburgh Penguins (2008), Detroit Red Wings (2008-09), and Chicago Blackhawks (2009-17), tallying 1,134 points (525G, 609A) along the way. Hossa also represented his native country on numerous occasions, registering 22 points (13G, 9A) in 19 games at the junior level, and 70 points (31G, 39A) in 76 senior-level games. The first-ballot HOFer also helped Team Europe earn a silver medal at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
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