July 2, 2008 | 3:30am ET
Oilers pressing hard for Hossa TheFourthPeriod.com
The Edmonton Oilers are among the teams heavily pursuing unrestricted free agent star Marian Hossa and have pitched him a long-term offer.
According to reports, the Oilers are willing to match any offer Hossa receives, and even beat it, and they've conveyed that message to Hossa's agent, Ritch Winter.
Winter did not immediate return messages.
Hossa is believed to have received offers from the Pittsburgh Penguins (five-years worth just over $7 million per season) and the Montreal Canadiens (in the $8 million per year range).
The Oilers, who met with Winter late Tuesday, are supposedly offering a long-term deal worth close to $9 million per season.
The Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Vancouver Canucks and New York Rangers have also shown an interest in Hossa, but they're no longer believed to be in the mix, however the Canucks and Rangers may jump back on Hossa's wagon later today.
