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LeftWinger, start naming... I would love to hear them lol. Richdg, I've been a Wings fan probably longer than you've been in this world but whatever. For the THIRD time, I would love to see a reputable source that has said that Franzen has a mental health issue, meaning a quote directly from Franzen himself. I highly doubt there is one. In fact, I've read an interview with Franzen where he was asked that specific question and he denied it, laughed and asked where people come up with their information, but I cannot come up with a link either so I guess I'm just as bad as yourself... These issues have been rumored for years and I've yet to hear anyone part of the Wings organization address it directly. And as I said before, even if he is going through some s***, how is that any different from the rest of us? To suggest he would quit his job is ridiculous...

Rangers king Henrik will be motivated as hell for today I expect him to shut them down once and for all.

Just out of curiosity how do you measure "he plays/doesn't play defense" because the Franzen I see is better than average defensively for a winger.

Isn't it ironic that technology is the medium in which we are reading about this story yet somehow it has generated some kind of fear about how tech is taking work away from real people and diminishing history? Technology will always replace people, it has for a hundred years. I'm sure the tone of the article is bringing about this fear, but holy smokes people, calm down. Or you could just read the OP where it was clearly stated.

If you're going to flash numbers at least get them right. Tied for 133rd in goals Tied for 108th in assists Tied for 106th in FO win% Tied for 121th in points Tied for 241st in blocked shots Tied for 286th in takeaways Despite being at 335th in games played he put offensive numbers well within the 180 mark. His defensive numbers would probably be inside the 180 mark too if he had been healthy. These numbers paint the picture of a Top 3 forward since his offensive numbers would be inside the 90 mark had he played a full season. Isn't that just silly? Well he's tied for 75th in the league in average goals per game so I'd say yes you can call him a goal scorer. You might ask: Who else is tied for 75th with him? Evander Kane and Milan Lucic among others. What other goal scorers are below him? Jagr, Lecavalier, Mackinnon, Voracek, Gaborik, Eric Staal, Hartnell, Ladd, Jussi Jokinen, Dustin Brown, Eriksson, and more. And at his sticker price he's a pretty good bargain too. I sure love being silly.

Expansion really is just a cash cow for Bettman and the league. What they should really be focusing on is moving teams in crappy markets that are losing money due to the stupid nature of the cap being linked to league revenues. Florida is a prime example. Phoenix shouldn't be there either. Luckily they managed to realise these things in Atlanta and moved them to a solid hockey market. Kansas City would definitely be a mistake IMO, and Seattle I'm uncertain about. The NHL never should have left Quebec city really and that's the first place they should look to go, while having another team in the Toronto area would be a massive win for the league in terms of $$$$. The Leafs might be pissed, but they'd get over it.

Me (far left) while a bit intoxicated. Who can guess where this photo took place?

Again, if you're going to state that he missed time while not being injured as fact, a link would help. Every game Franzen missed was due to injury. He missed over 20 games to a concussion, so unless you're saying that being concussed was the mental issue he was facing.....

LOL, "most of his time missed last year wasn't because of an injury"... You're kidding right?... So I guess that concussion he had was just an excuse for his "mental illness" right? This "mental/emotional issue" that you speak of is completely rumor based and pure speculation by some half ass beat writer. Have you ever heard this out of Johan's mouth or even out of the coaches or general managers mouth? If so, I would love to see a link. I don't believe that Franzen has any more s*** going on in the way of "hurt feeling" or social anxiety or the sort, more than any of the other billions in the world. Everyone has their s*** and Franzen is no different, but to say that he would quit his job because of this is absurd.

I blame myself. I sat down to watch a nice night of elimination. Bam, 2 - 0. I turn game off. Check score on phone, its 3 - 1. Whoa, at least Kings aren't giving up. Turn on for start of 3rd period. 4 - 3, and then the tying goal by Smith. Dammit! I will not watch game 6. Enjoy the victory LA!

What about Wisconsin? We can have the Wisconsin Cheese!

Actually I'm in the same boat because I think Franzen is pretty solid as far as defense goes. He's not gonna win a Selke, but he's responsible.

Let me rephrase that, then. A head coach of Bylsma's stature doesn't go back to being an assistant.

It was rather...

The Habs are looking to join Vancouver and San Jose in shenanigans. I'm easing off the bandwagon.

I can and do expect all 5 of the players I listed to play moderately to significantly more time than they did last season. And yes I am well aware that Nyquist started the season in GR. You can think what you want, I am a believer that Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Franzen and Weiss will all have a great offseason and come in healthy and rejuvenated. I think between the 4 of those guys they will average 70 games or so, 3 of them playing 70+ and the other missing 15-20. I expect a huge year out of Zetterberg (80 points) and I expect Weiss to make a lot of people eat their words with a career year (65 points) and Datsyuk to be the magician he is (75 points). I do expect the same old people to complain about Franzen but he will yet again, earn his contract (55 points)... Call me optimistic...

None of that really makes us tougher to play against though. Add any (or all) of those guys and Boston still wipes us out in the first round. Add all those guys, plus Sproul, Mantha, Pulkkinen, and Marchenko and Boston STILL wipes us out in the first round. Ken Holland has a real opportunity to use all this cap space, tradeable assets, and roster space to significantly improve the team WHILE ALSO making it harder to play against. But not if he takes the easy way out and signs more aging vets, club footed third pair d-men, and undersize and/or European forwards. For example: Vrbata is a better player, but a guy like RJ Umberger is a bigger need. We've got six guys that can do what Vrbata does, we've got nobody that can do what Umberger does. That's what I'm getting at.

Ashame Igor Larinov isn't available

I would give Kocur a one-game stint just to throw another chair to center ice.

Agreed. Part of me wants Florida to hire him so we can bring someone in to fix our s***ty PP.

If there is an upgrade at forward available that makes sense, you definitely do it, but it shouldn't be anywhere close to a priority in the offseason. The main priority needs to be on the back end. The reason we were so average on offense last year is because of two things. First of all, we lost a crazy amount of man games up front to key players (Zetterberg (37), Datsyuk (37), Franzen (28), Nyquist (25) and Weiss (56)) That's a huge chunk of time to 5 of our top forwards. Secondly, our lack of quality puck movers on the back end also effected our offensive numbers. With a healthy group of forwards and an upgrade or two on the back end I think we will be right in the thick of things.

I think the Panthers should move before the NHL adds any more teams. They're always near the bottom in attendance and moving them to the west would even the conferences up.

Bettman did not create the hockey markets in California. The Kings were part of the 1967 expansion, the Sharks were 1991, and the Ducks were awarded a franchise in 1992. Bettman became commissioner in February of 93. None of those franchises were his decision. Gretzky being traded to Los Angeles had more to do with hockey in California than anything Gary did.