Today in Blackhawks History: Marian Hossa's Milestone

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Joshua Deeds
October 30, 2024 (5:52 PM)

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Marian Hossa is a key piece in the Chicago Blackhawks story, as a three-time Stanley Cup champion. He was a big part of the dynasty in the 2010s and set his own records as well.

On October 30th, 2014 a decade ago, Hossa hit a career-milestone of which only 80 other NHLers had at that point.

He scored his 1,000th point in Ottawa, as the Blackhawks would defeat the Senators 5-4 in OT in the shootout.

At this point in Hossa's career, he had played 1,100 NHL games and ironically enough, his career had started in that very city.

Hossa was selected in the 1997 NHL Draft by the Ottawa Senators:

«I stayed here pretty much by myself,» said Hossa, who the Senators picked 12th overall in the 1997 NHL draft and who subsequently spent the summer away from his home in Slovakia. «I was just wandering around the city. It was an interesting beginning and 17 years later, I am here.»

«Here» for Hossa entailed the winger playing in his 1,100th career game as the Blackhawks faced the Senators on Thursday night at Canadian Tire Centre. «Here» also meant being one of the NHL's elite players who reached the 1,000 point mark with a goal and an assist during the Hawks' 5-4 victory over the Senators in a shootout.

«It's a great achievement and a great milestone and I'm really thankful to all the players who helped me achieve this during my career,» Hossa said. «It doesn't get better than this. It happened in Ottawa where everything started. I'll always remember that.»

Hossa was selected 12th overall that year, and we would say during his career he more than lived up to expectations in Chicago.

The Milestone was hit that night, and since then only 18 more players in the NHL have made the list.

A total of 98 at this point a decade later, which gives Hossa's accomplishment a lot of gravity.

«You have to be lucky health-wise,» he said. «You have to be lucky to be on good teams to play so many games. I was lucky to play with great teammates wherever I was.

«I try to stay the way I did when I came here,» Hossa added. «I'm just having lots of fun (like) when I was a younger guy and when I'm an older guy. There are lots of young kids rolling around. There are a bunch of 19- and 20-year-old guys. It's fun to be around that environment and I'm just glad I can still play.»

His teammate Patrick Kane would later make the list during the 2019-2020 NHL season.

Like Kane, Hossa's name is etched in the NHL history books, and not just for total points alone. It's engraved on the Cup three-times!