DETROIT -- Marian Hossa's combination of size, speed and skill helped the banged-up Detroit Red Wings set up a Stanley Cup Final rematch with his former team, the Pittsburgh Penguins.

If Hossa can help Detroit hoist the Cup for a second straight year, it will validate his eyebrow-raising decision to sign with the Wings for much less money than Pittsburgh offered.

"It should be interesting," Pittsburgh goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury said. "We all know the reason why he left us to go there. It will be cool to face him, but we can't overthink it."

"He didn't go for money or anything, so you got to respect that," Pittsburgh's Max Talbot said. "But he's in our way right now, so we're going to have to play him hard."

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When Hossa came to Pittsburgh at the 2008 trade deadline, he had just four months remaining on his contract, and Pens general manager Ray Shero acknowledged it was a gamble.

The move almost paid off when the Pens got to the finals, which they hadn't done since 1992. But they weren't able to beat Detroit, and Hossa's contract expired, making him the NHL's hottest free agent as teams began bidding for his services.

"It was just kind of like a slap in the face. I mean, we loved Marian," said Pens fan Maura Bon, of St Mary's.

Hossa stunned the league by accepting Detroit's one-year contract for about $7.5 million, turning down a multiyear offer for an estimated $49 million from the Penguins and what was reportedly an even more lucrative offer from the Edmonton Oilers.

"He came here, we took him in, fell in love with him, made songs for him, cheered for him," said Pens fan John McClelland, of Squirrel Hill. "Said he wanted a big deal. We offered it to him, then he goes to them for a one-year deal."

Hossa took Detroit's offer because he thought it was his best chance to win a Stanley Cup. But if the Pens win this series, he won't just lose a championship. He'll be out a lot of money, with no long-term financial security.

"I have to make this not too big a distraction," Hossa said Wednesday night. "I just have to use it as an advantage."

Hossa is hailed for his dazzling talents in Detroit, but he's vilified by Pittsburgh fans for not re-signing with the Pens.

"He abandoned us after the season was over, and I think a lot of people are still angry about that," said Pens fan Kim Piganell, of Oakdale.

The cheers Hossa hears in Game 1 on Saturday and Game 2 on Sunday likely won't be as loud as the jeers that will cascade on him when the series shifts to Mellon Arena.

"I know, myself, as a player, when players get booed in other buildings, it just motivates you and makes you want to want to do better," Pittsburgh's Brooks Orpik said. "If our fans want to boo him, I don't know how much good it's going to do us. He's a great player. It was weird what happened, but everyone respects him as a guy and as a player. It was a tough decision for him, but we've got a chance to beat him here."

Win or lose, the Red Wings would like to keep Hossa around. But he'll be a free agent once again after these finals, free to sign with any team in the league -- even the Pens, if they want him.

"Being in the finals -- that's motivation," Hossa said. "Last year I lost it, so this is another chance. It's going to be hard, but it's a good chance."

"The best thing we can do to him is just win it and shake his hand at the end, so we'll leave it to that," Talbot said.