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Now he's a classic case of getting the big contract and turning in performances. As soon as he reached the top 6 and got his 11 year contract or whatever it was, he hit the off switch on his effort. So what he got a goal and an assist last night, that doesn't make up for his complete lack of effort the past 15 games or so. I'd rather see Franzen be a consistant player that shows his talents on a regualar basis like Datsyuk. It pisses me off that he doesn't care about the regular season cause that's how you get a better spot in the playoffs. Do any of you really want to see the Wings make it to the WCF to face probably the Canucks and lose on the road as they love to do and with all the hometown calls for the Canucks as well? Didn't think so. That's why we need Franzen to put in a little more ******* effort on a regular basis to get the Presidents Trophy and take home ice through the playoffs to the SCF. The Wings will not win a series in which they do not have home ice advantage, mark my words.

Good to see one of our top players become the whipping boy. All the years of idiots bitching about scrubs of marginal impact was getting stale. I thought about interjecting some rationality, but decided it would be pointless. Those who want to hate Franzen will do so regardless. They'll overstate his flaws, downplay or outright dismiss his strengths. Once he goes on another hot streak you'll all go back to jerking off to his picture while burning Ericsson in effigy. Goal and assist tonight. On pace for 30+ goals, and career highs in assists and points. Yeah, such awful depreciation.

As I recall, when Stu was traded here, the little girl was about 9 or 10. They obviously didn't move at that time since it was near the end of the season and it was a rental. He would be UFA in a few months and there was a new baby on the way. He then got a 4-year contract with a partial NTC. I remember that it was said at that time that he wanted to stay put until his step-daughter reached high school so that she wouldn't have to be uprooted again. It seems that the plan was to bring her here. I knew a lady who was divorced in California, and in her case, in order to move away, she had to send her kids to live with their dad in the summer in order to avoid the every-other-weekend visits, which would not have worked over such a long distance. The only reason she got that was that her ex allowed it. Apparently in Stuie's case, either the dad or the courts didn't allow it, or he and his wife decided not to move the family. I do recall that he declined a better offer from Calgary because he didn't want to send the little girl through customs alone on her visitations. Considering that he's from Alberta, that must have been a sacrifice. Hearing how he has put his wife and her child ahead of his own interests has given me a huge amount of respect for him. I would love for him to stay, but I understand why he wants to be back with his wife and 4-year-old son. It has to have been rough for him to be away from his little boy, yet he has honoured his contract with the Wings, even though things apparently didn't go as planned. I wish him well where ever he goes, even if it's with an icky team like the Ducks.

I thought this was really well done. All credit to FissionFire on the Wings board at HFboards http://hfboards.hockeysfuture.com/showthread.php?t=576043

Yep, we've been hearing "heavy winger" and "someone to keep the flies off" for years now. esteef

It is pretty sad that he has to take it on the chin, because Holland doesn't dress anyone else who's willing to do it consistently. I hope he doesn't get a concussion from trying to "fire his team up"

The ex-husband wants to be near his daughter, that's not a bad thing, he has every right to see his daughter. Its up to Stuart to decide for himself what is best for him and his relationships, if he makes a grown up decision that he wants to be closer to his family I think every Red Wings fan should support him. I feel bad for even having to say this but there are some things more important than hockey.

Thats because he had a work ethic back then.

Anyone remember this gem? Can't believe I found it on YT. Enjoy before it gets taken down.

"Personal reasons" means it's none of our business.

I hate when people compare Datsyuk to God. I mean, sure he's good, but he's not as good as Datsyuk.

Hi guys so what do you think will be the Wings W-L record in their final 22 games? I have them losing atleast 8 games but not sure how many if any of the 8 they get a point in so lets say they go 14-8 which is ok but not sure if thats good enough to get the top spot as the Canucks have an easier schedule and thus the Wings may need to go on a serious run to fend off the Canucks and this year the top spot in the conference is more important than ever b/c of the home ice factor at the Joe. Below I've listed games in which I expect a W or a L: Feb. 21 at Chicago 8:00 L Feb. 23 Vancouver 7:30 L Feb. 25 Colorado 7:00 W Feb. 28 at Columbus 7:00 W Mar. 2 Minnesota 7:30 W Mar. 4 Chicago 4:00 W Mar. 6 at Philadelphia 7:00 L Mar. 9 Los Angeles 7:30 W Mar. 10 at Nashville 8:00 L Mar. 13 at Los Angeles 10:30W Mar. 14 at Anaheim 10:00L Mar. 17 at San Jose 10:30L Mar. 19 Washington 7:30 W Mar. 21 at NY Rangers 7:30 L Mar. 24 Carolina 7:00 W Mar. 26 Columbus 7:30 W Mar. 28 at Columbus 7:30 W Mar. 30 Nashville 7:30 W Apr. 1 Florida 4:00 W Apr. 4 at St. Louis 7:30 L Apr. 5 New Jersey 7:30 W So as you can see I was generous in only giving them 1 loss at home which is to the Canucks and I would assume they will drop a couple to some of the bottom feeders as they normally have those types of games and it looks more & more like the Wings will be in the 2 spot assuming they can hold off St.Losers for the division lead.

I don't know about the author, but I have been in my share of fights both on and off the ice, and if you can handle yourself off the ice, it will bode well for you on the ice. You see, I don't think Justin has been in many fights off the ice(and if you're a good, law-abiding citizen, that's a good thing), because his defensive skills and patience are terrible. Put your off-arm straight out, leave your throwing arm loose and at your side, and wait for your opening. And in a hockey fight, it's always best to let your opponent make the first move, assuming you know what you're doing. Justin doesn't, and the fight is usually over before it even begins. He does not have a good fighting stance, and he definitely has no patience. Also, lose the shield! Tough guys don't wear shields! Now, I'm not saying Abby should go out to some bar and pick a few fights with some Hell's Angels, but he should at least watch some old Joey Kocur fights, and watch what he does. Or better yet, ask Joe to give him some tips. He's sometimes around. Joe was a guy who knew how to end a fight quickly. Justin will NEVER be in Kocur's league, but he can become a better fighter. Hell, he can't be much worse. I respect him for trying, but he can't keep getting his ass kicked. He's a tough kid and he can take a punch(or 10), but he must improve his whole game or just not fight at all.

Lidstrom hasn't even been the best defenseman on our team, IMO, let alone the entire league. I don't know if he would win the Norris even if he was playing hockey ala lidstrom 2002, though. I feel like there are too many influential people who see Lids as inferior to Orr and have to justify that by not voting for his tying Norris trophy. It doesn't matter either way, though.

Karlsson will win, hes going to put up 80+ points. There should probably be an award for Best Offensive Defensemen and another for Best Defensenen.

I'd still be happy with a 52-55 point season.

Great to see Filppula's effort night in, night out. I've said it before, but this guy brings it as consistently as anyone in the league. He is tenacious every game and make the team better, even when he isn't showing up on the scoresheet. To date he is on pace for 64+ points and 24+ goals. As the team pushes towards the playoffs and gets healthy, its conceivable that his score pace picks up even more. Just like Z, I see him scoring closer to 70 points by the end of the season. Points aside, he brings more than most. Good on ya, Fil :clap:

So what we're getting at is his wife's ex-husband is responsible for Stuart leaving us this offseason? *******. Which leads me to believe that he most likely as an ******* before all of this!

Mule does not compete and that is getting to be a huge problem for the Wings. If all he provides is a few goals that are usually gifts then he is replaceable for a player that may not score more but that brings more to the table.

I can't agree with this thread enough. I've been telling my friends this since the season began. The problem with Franzen is that at this point he is nothing more than a shooter. When there isn't anyone there to feed him the easy goal or shot, he won't produce. He doesn't play defense. On occasion he shows some sort of stick-handling ability, but that is about it. The other night against Vancouver he was gently striding to get onside. It doesn't look like he cares about the regular season at all. I understand that as long as he performs during the playoffs, everything will be forgiven. However, that doesn't excuse his pathetic play as of late. He looks like the laziest player on the ice every night. I would not object to Ken Holland trading him away. What I am upset with is that the rest of Datsyuk's prime will be stuck side by side with Franzen and Bertuzzi.

Goals scorers can be streaky if they do other things than score goals. Franzen doesn't. I've said it a million times, if Franzen isn't scoring goals, he isn't doing anything. That's his problem.

we got him instead of hossa. for 8 or 9 more years.

Mule could be a 50G guy IMO if he played with passion game in and game out. It's like he has the Fedorov emotion bug.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA My god. What a heartless team the Nucks are.