It’s always tough to watch your favorite team lose a player with as much talent as Hossa possesses (similar to the Falcons losing Deion Sanders, the Braves splitting with Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine, or the Hawks and Dominique Wilkins parting ways).

Despite my disappointment, I think the Thrashers actually got the better end of this deal. Instead of Hossa being lost to free agency later this summer in exchange for nothing (which may still happen to Pittsburgh), Atlanta got back Christensen and three first round picks (Armstrong in ‘01, Esposito last season, and the pick in the next draft).