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Pretty much everyone covering the NHL for any media outlet appears genuinely shocked that Marian Hossa, the star forward acquired by the Pittsburgh Penguins from the Atlanta Thrashers at last year’s trade deadline to fuel the Penguins’ Stanley Cup playoff run, has signed a one-year, $7 million contract with the Red Wings. These pundits are in nearly universal agreement that Hossa is giving up “a lifetime of security” for a chance to win the Cup.

Two points:

First, isn’t every hockey player’s dream to win the Stanley Cup? You don’t hear Nick Lidstrom saying, “Oh, yeah, ever since I was a boy, I always wanted to win six Norris Trophies”, and you don’t hear Henrik Zetterberg saying, “I’ve always dreamed of winning the Conn Smythe Trophy”. Almost to a man, the Wings said winning the Cup was their dream. Why should Hossa be any different? And what do you have left to prove in the league after winning a Cup? How many more you can win? The Stanley Cup is, and always has been, the reason for playing NHL hockey, and the bottom line is this: Marian Hossa doesn’t have his name on the Cup, and he wants it there. A one-year deal with the Wings is the best chance he has to achieve that.

Second, since when is $7 million not enough money for a “lifetime of security”? I’m certain beyond all doubt that, if you gave me $7 million next year, minus taxes, that I would be more than comfortable for the rest of my life, as would my parents, any future family, and most of my extended family. What happened to our society that we don’t think top professional athletes can possibly get by on less than $8-10 million per year, and need to have at least 5-10 years at that pay level to be “secure”? No, a million dollars isn’t what it used to be, but it’ll still buy you a nice house anywhere in the United States and leave more change than most people make in salary in a year. Anything more than that is just icing on the cake.