Report: NHL to review whether Hossa can be placed on long-term IR
The NHL will review whether the Chicago Blackhawks can place forward Marian Hossa - who announced Wednesday he will miss the entire 2017-18 campaign with a skin disorder - on long-term injured reserve for the upcoming season, Sportsnet's Chris Johnston reports.
Much rides on the decision, as Hossa landing on LTIR would provide the cap-crunched Blackhawks with major financial relief, compared to "cap recapture" penalties should he have to retire.
With the expansion and entry drafts taking place this week, the NHL is rather preoccupied, but Yahoo's Greg Wyshynski reports league deputy commissioner Bill Daly said a decision should come by July 1.
The 38-year-old powerhouse winger revealed he privately underwent treatment throughout the season, and side effects from the medication to treat the disorder contributed to the decision to sit out.
Hossa, a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame, netted 26 goals and 19 assists across 73 contests for the Blackhawks in 2016-17, and has four seasons remaining on his current contract which carries an annual cap hit of $5.275 million.