Marian Hossa Is Succumbing To A Rare, Progressive Skin Condition...And Allowing The Blackhawks To Beat The Balls Off The Salary Cap

From Hossa:
Over the course of the last few years, under the supervision of the Blackhawks medical staff, I have been privately undergoing treatment for a progressive skin disorder and the side effects of the medications involved to treat the disorder. Due to the severe side effects associated with those medications, playing hockey is not possible for me during the upcoming 2017-18 season. While I am disappointed that I will not be able to play, I have to consider the severity of my condition and how the treatments have impacted my life both on and off the ice.

From the Blackhawks:
The Chicago Blackhawks are in full support of Marian Hossa as he addresses his medical issues. This is extremely difficult for us because we all know the incredible person and player that Marian Hossa is – competitive, loyal and humble. He has played a major role in the success our franchise has experienced in recent years, which makes his departure from our lineup a significant loss. His teammates and coaches know he battled through some very tough physical difficulties but never complained or missed games despite the challenges he faced. The organization will continue to provide him every resource he needs to maintain his health.

​From Blackhawks team physician Dr. Michael Terry:
Marian has been dealing with the effects of a progressive skin disorder that is becoming more and more difficult to treat and control with conventional medications while he plays hockey. Because of the dramatic nature of the medications required and their decreasing effectiveness, we strongly support his decision not to play during the 2017-18 season. We feel in the most certain terms this is the appropriate approach for Marian in order to keep him functional and healthy in the short term and throughout his life.

(h/t PuckDaddy)

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I have never, in my entire life, been more sure that an organization made a deal with the devil. I don't doubt the severity of Marian Hossa's skin condition because I don't think a consummate professional athlete that proud and accomplished would unofficially walk away from hockey just to free up salary cap space. However, the fact that a player as proud and accomplished as Marian Hossa was forced to walk away from hockey during the one time in which it would most benefit the long term success of his team? That's just a little too suspicious for me not to believe that it's a direct byproduct of a handshake with lucifer.

Stan Bowman and the Chicago Blackhawks have been dancing around salary cap hell like they have been tip toeing over hot coals for years, and this situation simply solidifies that the most evil of genius was keeping them from feeling the burn. A 38 year old professional hockey player having a skin condition caused by the equipment he's worn for...umm...his entire fucking life that allowed him to play in the NHL for damn near two decades and participate in nearly 80 games last season ever-so-suddenly progresses to a literal point of no return? And in the process it frees his team of the financial woes that served as the only downside to signing him to a 12 year, ludicrously front loaded contract? 

I don't want to marginalize the pain and anguish that Marian Hossa must have been/still is battling through on a daily basis, but this is the most convenient epidermal allergy in the history of epidermal allergies. In fact, it's unquestionably too convenient for me to believe that there aren't external, corrupt forces that brought intolerable discomfort to a future 'Hall Of Famer' at the ass end of an inflated contract, thus giving the Blackhawks the ability to scratch the itch that was their monetary restrictions.