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But...we're trading Datsyuk for picks I thought... I feel like I've heard this somewhere before.... ....I just can't quite put my finger on it...

While in front of Babs I'd also appreciate you asking him why Datsyuk is playing with the 4th line.

Franzia is well deverved of his whipping boy status, by his own admittance that he gets bored in the NHL and doesn't give 100% all the time... Also, the author is wrong about how he got his nickname. He was called the Mule because it was so hard to move him from in front of the net. (When he was younger and didn't get his serious contract yet.) It had absolutely nothing to do with his work ethic on the ice. A mule is unmovable and stubborn and cannot be pushed down once it stands it ground. That is what Franzia was prior to his contract signing. That is why he was name the Mule. The author needs to get the facts correct before he writes his gibberish. That was a quote directly from Steve Yzerman himself in describing why he called him the Mule along with a tongue in cheek shot at his huge front teeth which makes him resemble one as well... I also like how the author refers to him being one of only two players to score 5 goals in a game...that may be true, but he omitted the fact that he scored those 5 goals and then didn't score again for 2 months, and I think only 4 more the rest of the season... Then he ends up with a challenge, if you have the guts post your comments below. Well I certainly have the guts, but do not conform to social media controlling what I post since you are required to have a waste-of-facebook account, which I do not, I cannot comment. I would certainly invite him here to debate with us because I can guarantee 75% of our users have more hockey knowledge than he does...

This is just all kinds of wrong and unlike some of the other Franzen critics who've made good points this lacks any and all sense. First how can Abby and Cleary be playing over Franzen on line 2, when he is playing on line #1 with Zetterberg and Brunner? Technically speaking he's playing over Datsyuk, Cleary and Abby. Secondly, why would he retire costing a team thats been loyal to him when he could just go on LTIR and not cost the team at all should he want to hang them up? Third, your assessment of Franzen's defence is so wrong its mind boggling. Franzen has been on the ice for a total of 4 goals against all season while facing the toughest opposition of anyone on the entire team. Per/60 minutes Franzen ranks 3rd among the Wings forwards in goals against. He trails only Tootoo and Eaves both of which face easier opposition. Sammy on the other hand ranks dead last on the entire team, while facing the worst opposition of the entire team. The only way you can reach the conclusion you did is to either be completely biased, or completely oblivious to what happens on the ice. Clarkson

Ehh Franzen is what he is at this point. Extremely streaky and a tendency to disappear for long stretches. Problem with that is Franzen does nothing else besides score, so when he's not doing that then I think that's where the floating/lazy reputation kicks in especially. Very frustrating to watch as a fan. I don't really dlslike Franzen. I hate the fact he plays for the Red Wings and Hossa doesn't though.

i expect more from him, because he can. I understand the frustration lots of the fans have with him, and NHL athlete shouldn't be "streaky", Franzen has the hands, size and skating ability to be a dominate player, yet he is only dominate in spurts. But don't take it from me, take it from his coach http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2011/11/red_wings_mike_babcock_wants_j.html To me having your coach call you out on not coming to the rink with the right mentality every single night. Something he did earlier in his career when he was fighting for a roster slot and a stanley Cup. Which is when Yzerman gave him that nick name.

http://thehockeywriters.com/johan-franzen-is-the-red-wings-most-undeserved-whipping-boy/ Sammy is one of the streakiest players ever, but he never gets accused of floating... at least not that I've heard. Seems unfair to be hating on Franzen.

That's no different than as scheduled last season. 2011/12, we played each team in the Central 6 times. Had we gone 7 games against Nashville, that reaches your potential 13 games. The only difference now is that we can stay in the same time zone guaranteed for the first 2 rounds, and significantly help our travel time. Had we been in a more favorable travel situation, 07 (Calgary, San Jose, Anaheim) could have ended a bit differently for us...

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Are you Ms. Franzen or what? You realize he is on a 16 g over 82 game pace right? Do you watch him play? he does nothing! Even the one thing he is supposed to do: shot and score he isn't doing. he doesn't hit, he doesn't skate. But your blind man/woman love is refreshing........ Just for a point of reference. Clarkson is on a 37 G over 82 game pace.

As a long time lurker of these forums - I might as well join in and say I'll be going too. Being a displaced New Zealander currently living in Mexico, I don't have any wicked connections that can get me a backstage pass, strangely enough... But the dream of many many years, to see the Wings at the Joe, is finally about to come true. So I am pretty damned excited right about now!

No thanks.

.......uhhhh why would Datsyuk's agent want good bargaining position for a contract if Datsyuk doesn't want a contract?

Me too in the 3rd row of 119.

There isn't a team in the league that would be willing to trade for McCollum. He was atrocious in his only NHL game, he was terrible in the AHL and he was just as bad in the ECHL. On top of that he's a FA at the end of the season. We could have moved Joey MacDonald to them and they'd probably pay a hefty fee for Mrazek but not for McCollum. Florida is another team desperate for Goalies after losing Theodore for the rest of the season but even they probably aren't THAT desperate

Its awesome that you have this opportunity and you're willing to share it with us. Hope all goes as planned! Also, tell Franzen LGW wants him to work harder. And do it in front of Babs.

The whole offense isn't showing up but apparently the blame lands only on Franzen... He also is 2 games back from an injury and was playing well before being injured

I do think the idea behind the article is correct. Franzen takes way more heat than he deserves. Franzen's production has been extremely consistent for a scorer but for some reason when he got his big contract expectations of him raised considerably among fans. Personally I think outside of players on entry level deals he's one of the best bang for your buck scorers in the entire league. I also think its funny that everyone was just waiting for a chance to jump on him after his first bad game of the season the other day against Chicago. Before he got his hip flexor he was putting up a point in every other game. On top of that he's led the team in scoring the past 2 seasons and people talk like he should be bought out. Its kind of ridiculous, but then again we are one of, if not the most spoiled fan base in all of hockey.

Hossa was more expensive and the Wings would have had to drop somebody else to afford him. During the 09 playoffs, the biggest whipping boy for Red Wings fans was Hossa, and Franzen was everybody's sweetheart probably some of the same people who claim we should have signed him instead of Franzen now. People would have been outraged if we signed Hossa and dropped Franzen

Actual Quote: “They know that’s a possibility,” said one NHL executive. An NHL executive is different from a GM, and it is one guy's opinion. Larry Murphy said on a broadcast this year that he believes Datsyuk will stay another 4 years. I would think he would no more than one random executive. To me, that sounds like an opinion from a guy with no inside information and was asked to speculate. But who knows.

I think I will throw up if Cleary is re-signed.

Kindl's really impressed me the past 4 games. Since Babs challenged him to be better, he has been. Hasn't over skated any pucks like is usually the norm for him, no terrible glaring turnovers of memory and he's starting to get physical. Threw a great hit against the Hawks along the wall. After seeing Ericssons game develop so much this season, I think I'm riding Kindl this year. I've been critical of him since he joined the team full time in 09/10 and was battling Salei (RIP) for the 6th spot, but maybe he's just a late bloomer too. The current 6 D as it is, is really exciting. And it's hard to believe I'm saying that after Nick left this off-season haha.

I'm in the boat too that Franzen would be better to trade than Flip. Give Flip 3.8-4 mil per for a few years and then assess him again then. He is a really good 2-way player who hustles and his only real knock is that he needs to shoot more...way more. Franzen on the other hand, while he had a good stretch of games this year, he's back to his lazy self. He stopped hitting, he's taking weak ass shots and he doesn't hustle in the least. I say try and trade Franzen to Calgary for a 1st round pick if they'll give it up. I don't care if we get anything else other than a 1st cause that would give us a good shot at getting a pick close enough to get Ryan Pulock and it'll free up a roster spot to keep Tatar and maybe bring up Nyquist, both of which also hustle and don't piss off the general population of LGW. So as far as i'm concerned, that would be win-win.

Abby has his place on this team...he has his role...he plays his part very well...he doesn't belong with Datsyuk. Abby on the 4th line is a valuable member of this team, Abby on the 1st line is deer in headlights. Cleary on this team period is just asinine....

Let Ian White tell you himself.