Wednesday the Chicago Blackhawks inked four-time NHL All-Star, right winger Marion Hossa to a 12-year deal. Hossa is an 11-year NHL vet who has played for Ottawa, Atlanta, Pittsburgh and Detroit. Hossa played in the Stanley Cup Finals in each of the last two seasons, with the runner-up Penguins in 2008 and the runner-up Red Wings in 2009. During the regular season, Hossa led the Wings in goals (40), finished third on the team in overall points (71) and was named to the 2008-09 NHL Second All-Star Team.

Hossa's teammate, center Tomas Kopecky, will also don the Indian Head sweater in '09-'10. Kopecky, with the Red Wings for the last four seasons, had a career high in goals (6), assists (13) and points (19) and was second on the team in hits (109). Chicago signed Kopecky to a two-year deal.

The Hossa signing is reportedly worth $5.2 million a year, front-loaded with about $59.3 million paid out over the first eight years. That big number may prove troublesome for the Hawks, who will need to find room to re-sign Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Duncan Keith next season. The signing also almost certainly spells the end of Martin Havlat's career as a Hawk. Havlat had a career year, but his frequent injury problems likely kept Chicago from giving him the long-term deal he desired.

Blackhawks defenseman Matt Walker has reportedly signed a four-year, $6.8 million deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The futures of Nikolai Khabibulin and Sammy Pahlsson, both unrestricted free agents, are still up in the air.