Twitter was aflutter late Tuesday with news that Chicago Blackhawks winger Marian Hossa might be forced to retire for a very odd reason. The 38-year-old is reportedly in a difficult spot as a result of a severe allergic reaction to his hockey equipment.
This news was pushed out by SportsNet’s Elliotte Friedman, with Blackhawks beat writers quickly working to verify the information. Hossa’s agent, Ritch Winter, declined to comment on the situation, as did the Blackhawks.
Now, there’s a lot to unpack here. But the immediate assumption from non-Blackhawks fans who are not in some sort of media position is that the Blackhawks are trying to find a way to skirt the salary cap.