It was the morning of July 1, 2009, and Ritch Winter, Marian Hossa's agent, was speaking to his client about an impending deal with the Blackhawks.
The sides had been talking for weeks. Winter had determined the Hawks, who had just lost in the conference finals, were the best fit for Hossa to achieve long-term success in his quest to win his first Stanley Cup.
Hossa had played for three teams over the previous two seasons. He was ready to start a family and wanted security. The Hawks were willing to give it to him _ 12 years' worth of it.
All that was left to do was sign the contract once free agency opened that day.
But then Hossa hesitated.
"He said to me: 'Why don't we go (back to) free agency? I never really got this close. Maybe I should talk to other teams,' " Winter said.
So Winter called Hawks general manager Dale Tallon.
"You could hear the air come completely out of the room when I told them," Winter said. "He had thought he bagged the prized free agent, and I thought he had too."
But Tallon held firm.
Winter said Tallon told him he didn't think Hossa opening his free agency was a good idea, considering Tallon had already made other moves to pave the way for Hossa. If Hossa walked away from the deal now, it might not be there after he talked with other teams.
Winter called Hossa back.
"I told him: 'It's not surprising that Dale doesn't think this is a good idea. He was feeling really comfortable that you guys are a good fit,' " Winter said.
Hossa had second thoughts about his second thoughts. Despite the earlier desire to talk to more teams, Winter said Hossa isn't the kind of player to walk away from a deal that is almost done.
The brief flirtation with opening his free agency remained just that.
"Yeah, I get that," Hossa said, according to Winter. "I'm thinking it's Chicago and I believe it's the right choice. I get Dale's concerns.
"Just tell him we have a deal."
Tallon didn't recall that fateful exchange but said: "If (Winter) said it happened, I'm not going to dispute it."
So that's how Marian Hossa joined the Blackhawks.
How different the Hawks' fortunes might have been had that morning gone another way. Hossa has helped bring three Stanley Cups to Chicago and is in the midst of a career resurgence.
At 37, before Tuesday's game against the Coyotes he had 12 goals this season, the first of which was the 500th in his career. It's proof he is one of the best ever to play in the NHL, although he didn't really need it.
After Hossa scored his 500th goal, the Hawks held a ceremony Oct. 30 before a game against the Kings. His family was there, including his two daughters. Zoja, 3, honked Hossa's nose while President John McDonough was lauding Hossa's career, causing the United Center to erupt in laughter.
It was a moment that encapsulated everything Hossa hoped for when he committed to sign with the Hawks that morning in 2009 _ success on the ice, stability off it.
While some doubt whether Hossa can play out the rest of his contract _ which expires after the 2020-21 season, when he will be 42 _ Hossa is fending off Father Time for now and reminding the NHL just why he is headed to the Hall of Fame.
"Things have worked out better than I thought," Hossa said.
