Report: Marian Hossa could be forced to retire due to allergic reaction to equipment

This just might be the most poorly written story since the last poorly written story was written.

"No one, however, could have predicted that he might hang up the cleats due to an allergic reaction to hockey equipment"

Hockey players don't wear cleats.  They wear skates.  Neither does the the article give very much information as to exactly what the future Hall of Famer is allergic too.  There are more than a few pieces of equipment that a hockey player wears so exactly what it is that he is allergic too is not clear at all.

"The longtime Blackhawk and ex-Senators, Thrashers, Penguins and Red Wings forward, per Friedman, is likely to send Hossa into either retirement or long-term injured reserve.

According to several sources, there is a legitimate possibility Hossa has played his final NHL game. (He could not be reached for comment. Neither could his agent, Ritch Winter. The Blackhawks declined to comment.) Apparently, he suffers from a serious allergic reaction to the equipment he wears.
The sources who confirmed the allergy stressed not to make fun of it, with one saying, "It's only funny to anyone who's never had it." Details are sketchy, because no one would give full information, but the medication necessary to combat the allergy is potent enough that doctors wanted his blood tested every few weeks to make sure there were no major side effects.
That's very serious stuff, and word is doctors worried about Hossa taking the medicine for extended periods of time.

It's a sensitive deal if, in fact, Hossa suffers from the allergic reaction. But it's no doubt a curious one, too, seeing as though the former Stanley Cup champion has already been in the league for two decades and would hit Chicago hard financially if he were to step away from the game.
Friedman has the details:

If he were to retire now, the Blackhawks would be hit with what are called "cap recapture" penalties -- $3.675 million off their club's cap number from next season until 2020-21. For a team already facing a crunch, that's a massive blow.  

Marian Hossa has scored 525 goals in 19 NHL seasons and helped Chicago win three Stanley Cups. USATSI