To say that it has been an up and down off season would be something of an understatement and the latest news that Hossa may need shoulder surgery does not help settle anything down.

Let’s take a look at the positives (+) and the negatives (-) of this off-season

+ Patrick Kane named to the cover of NHL 10 (a positive in my book)
+ Dave Bolland inked to a 5-year deal
+ Marian Hossa inked to a 12-year deal
- Martin Havlat is allowed to walk
- Havlat’s Twitter reveals possible politics within the Hawks organization. McDoughnut looks like a chump, then talks about his feelings and stuff on the Score
+ Tomas Kopecky signed
+ John Madden (BOOM!) signed
- Hawks forget that there’s no post on Sundays. End up paying more than they need to to retain Versteeg. (An argument can be made that Barker could have been re-signed for less as well, but I feel he was paid in the correct range.)
-Due to signings: Salary Cap explodes. A huge amount of doubt is heaped Dale Tallon’s way as Hawks fans start to get unsettled at the idea that the BIG THREE won’t all be able to return next year.
- Dale Tallon “steps down.” Achieves instant martyrdom.
- Hossa may be out until December while nursing a shoulder injury from last years playoffs.

So as you can see there have been some very bright positives (the Hossa signing, the Bolland re-sign) and some disappointing negatives (from last place to conference finals in 4 years = demotion, tough break up with Havlat.) Luckily for us fans a majority of these negatives (barring the Hossa shoulder injury) are simply front office gaffs that will have little or no affect on the players themselves.

What this off season has NOT been… is boring.