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    Stefen Rosner
    Stefen Rosner
    Aug 17, 2023, 18:11

    On Friday, August 18, Marian Hossa, along with a handful of past teammates, will take the ice for his "Goodbye Game" in Trečín, Slovakia. There are a handful of former New York Islanders who will be lacing up the skates.

    On Friday, August 18, Marian Hossa, along with a handful of past teammates, will take the ice for his "Goodbye Game" in Trečín, Slovakia. There are a handful of former New York Islanders who will be lacing up the skates.

    Although Marian Hossa officially retired from the NHL in 2022 after a progressive skin disorder ended his playing days in 2017, the 44-year-old Hockey Hall of Famer is putting on a jersey one more time. 

    On Friday, August 18, Hossa and a handful of past teammates will take the ice for a "Goodbye Game" in Trečín, Slovakia.

    Here is the roster for the event, as there are some former New York Islanders who are lacing up the skates for the event. 


    Zdeno Chara

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    Drafted 56th overall by the New York Islanders in 1996, Zdeno Chara played just four seasons before being dealt to the Ottawa Senators, a first-round draft choice, and Bill Muckalt for Alexei Yashin ahead of the 2001-02 season. 

    That's when Chara became teammates with Hossa.

    Taken 12th overall by the Senators in 1997, Hossa became a force for Ottawa over his seven years with the club. He shared a locker room with Chara for three seasons before being moved to the Atlanta Thrashers in August of 2005. 

    But Hossa and Chara knew one another long before their NHL playing days.

    They grew up together in Slovakia and, back in 2013, were neighbors in Trečín, per ESPN's Scott Burnside

    The two went to war against each other during the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs, with Hossa and the Chicago Blackhawks taking the series in six games.

    "I try to joke with him, because he likes to be serious all the time on the ice," Hossa said in 2013 (H/t Scott Burnside). "I know he doesn't like to talk on the ice. I try to throw some funny stories on the faceoff, make him laugh a little bit."

    They also played together at the 2006 and 2010 Winter Olympics. 


    Miroslav Satan

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    Drafted 111th overall by the Edmonton Oilers in 1993, Miroslav Satan donned five NHL sweaters over his 14-year NHL career.

    That included a three-year stint with the Islanders from 2005 to 2008, racking up 78 goals and 88 assists in 243 games. 

    Although Satan never played with Hossa in the NHL, he certainly crossed paths with him with Slovakia, playing together at the 2002, 2006, and 2010 Winter Olympics. 

    They missed each other by a year in Pittsburgh, as Hossa left the Penguins after one year with the club in 2007-08, with Satan coming aboard in 2008-09. 


    Zigmund Palffy

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    A legend on Long Island, Ziggy Palffy spent six years with the Islanders (1993-1999) as a point-per-game player with 331 points in 331 games after being selected 26th overall by New York in 1991. 

    Yes, he wore the original Fisherman sweaters.

    After his time on the island ended, Palffy spent five seasons with the Los Angeles Kings before ending his NHL career with Pittsburgh two years before Hossa joined the club. 

    Palffy and Hossa crossed paths with Team Slovakia, playing together at the 2002 Winter Olympics and for the same team, Trencin Dukla, in the Czech League at different times. 

    "We had a lot of great players throughout history. My favorite group was Ziggy Palffy, Pavol Demitra, Miroslav Satan, and Peter Bondra," Hossa said in a translated interview in 2020. "Ziggy is, in my opinion, the most talented player in Slovak history."


    Lubomir Visnovsky

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    Despite not wanting to be an Islander after the Anaheim Ducks dealt the veteran defenseman to New York in the summer of 2022, Lubomír Visnovsky spent three seasons with the Blue and Orange from 2012-2015.

    In 112 games with New York, Visnovsky recorded 11 goals with 34 assists.

    Although Visnovsky never played with Hossa in the NHL, he greatly appreciated what Hossa meant to Slovakia, as the two shared time together on the national team from 2002-2010. 

    "He was one of the best Slovak players, if not the best," Visnovsky said. "He was always working hard and. He never talked too much. Everything he achieved was only because of his mindset."


    Jaroslav Halak

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    A fan favorite during his four seasons with the Islanders, Jaroslav Halak brought stability to the goaltender position.

    In 177 games with New York, Halak owned a 2.69 GAA, with a .913 SV% and 12 shutouts.

    Despite playing for seven teams over a 17-year career, Halak never crossed paths with Hossa but played with him on the 2010 Olympic team. 

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