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Another big win 13-0-3-0 in the last 16 games. They are rolling Athanasiou had a beauty.

Grand Rapids won tonight. AA scored a beauty.

Here's my analytical breakdown of last night's game:

I'm for whatever configuration of players helps us win. If Luke can do that better on the first than the fourth, I'm fine with it. I'm skeptical he could keep it up. But if he did, I'd stick with what works. Seems like all too often we want the team to win, but specifically with the guys we like contributing in the ways we want. But that's wrong headed. If we were a better team with Luke on the first and Tatar on the fourth, then that's what we ought to do.

I get what you're saying all over this thread, and I think much of the fan-speculation is silly too. But in this day and age, given how sensitive the entire sports world is becoming to concussions for very good reason, I'd say it's a good deal less outlandish to be concerned about Franzen's 10th concussion than any given person's disc issues in their back. Back issues are serious, no doubt, but they are not at the center of numerous lawsuits and major studies in the sports world like concussions currently are, again, for very good reason. People may very well have an anti-Franzen bias around here that colors their thoughts, and earlier in the thread you might see that I asked if there was anything said officially on the matter of Franzen potentially being done, and when there was none, I completely dismissed it and left the thread. I popped in now and again just to see if there were any real updates and eventually did learn that this is his 10th concussion, which I was unaware of beforehand. I personally have found Franzen to be a frustrating player as time's gone on, I'll fully admit that. I don't really miss him, but I don't really wish that he was gone either. I more or less stopped caring much one way or the other, because Franzen is who he is, an occasionally brilliant and occasionally lackluster forward. At least his cap hit is pretty cheap relative to today's market, so it's tough to complain too much. That's what I think. That said, I read that this is his 10th concussion and I have to say I immediately started worrying about the guy. The reality of the matter is concussions are quite serious, and while he likely will be able to come back from this, there's going to be a part of me that's concerned for the guy's long term health. As frustrating as he can be as a player to some, and as underrated as he is considered to others, he's still a person who's had a lot of concussions, and that's just not a good thing to put it simply. It's silly to be arguing about whether he should or shouldn't come back, let alone whether he will or won't. It's a waste of energy. If people want to waste energy, a better way to do it would be to simply express hope that whatever Franzen decides to do, he won't have any long-term issues from all of these concussions. At the end of the day, that's what really matters, and the rest is out of our hands anyways.

I viewed that more along the lines of a message to the guys you would think would hold down that spot (Weiss, Jurco). .... "You're not playing well enough to keep a 4th line center from taking your top six winger spot. At least this guy works hard and provides energy/effort for his linemates. That's more than you are providing. Start producing. Stop sucking."

The Griffins are 13-1-3 since Lashoff was sent down.

I will leave this here

Holland has Green, Franson, and Ehrhoff to look forward to in free agency among others. I'd rather pay a little more for Franson, maybe Green, than spend assets and money on Phaneuf. I think it's pretty apparent Toronto is going to have to eat salary and Weiss's contract f Phaneuf is going to come to Detroit, which probably isn't happening.

To tank or not to tank. That is the question. #tankeverytime #tankasaurusrex

#highwaytothetankitzone

#tankingthatwithagrainofsalt

Mule retire... it's not worth it... Great Wing when healthy, but take care of your son

Just because concussions have been sensationalized by lawsuits and former enforcer suicides, doesn't take away from the severity of chronic spinal and shoulder injury. Nathan Horton is latest to have his career end early because of this issue. My issue is the double standard. The reaction to Zetterberg being out is "I hear it's his back again, I hope it's not bad" The reaction to Franzen being out is "I don't expect to see him play ever again, he should seriously consider retirement" There is a lot more going on there than just the injury.

That was gorgeous. Holy crap

Cement hands? You mean Helm who has 13 goals, 6th on the team, or Abdelkader who has 17, 4th on the team? Both are better than one dimensional Pulkkinen.

Pulk has to be on Dats line from now on out. Pulk - Dats - Tats is an awesome line. Cement Hands has no business being anywhere near the top line and Glenny is not suited or it either. The Dats line needs the scoring ability of Pulk, NOT the ineptness of Cement Hands.

I hope he's back vs. Philly... if only to end the Glendening experiment a day earlier. I love Mike Babcock, but it's pretty messed up that I'm hoping that Darren Helm returns to take up his role on a scoring line over LUKE GLENDENING.

I didn't say Helm would have won us those two games. I said the lineup has a completely different feel to it when Helm is out. While most people I talk to are like oh yeah, I forgot about Franzen. I used to spout all the stats about Franzen, too. But with him, they just don't tell the story. I think a good part of the stats that Franzen puts up are due to the fact he gets top 6 minutes and PP time. He's usually playing with either Datsyuk or Zetterberg and that will increase anyone's numbers. Look at Abdelkader. The guy is a 4th liner. He really doesn't have offensive skills, but playing on the top 6 with D and Z has made him a 20 goal scorer. Now if he can get 20 with no skills, Franzen should be able to double that with his shot and size. Franzen will also have the 5 goal game or the 8 goals in 3 games and then go scoreless in 20. Which is fine if you're someone like Pav or Hank who still bring in every night. Another annoyance of his game are the stupid penalties and cheap shots he takes. Could he come back and contribute this season or in the future? It's possible, and if it happens, great. I just don't expect it to happen anymore. He is what he is. I give those credit who are still sticking with him and still think he's going to return to his 2008 playoff form.

I think Franzen himself is far from the norm. I wish him no ill will, but if he never came back it wouldn't bother me at all. He kind of lost me with that "I'm not a goal scorer" bit. It's like hey, don't expect me to do more, just expect less out of me and you won't be so disappointed. For me, it's not even that he doesn't score, but his overall malaise when he's out on the ice. He doesn't play well defensively, he doesn't use his size, he doesn't play physical, he always seems to be 2 steps behind the play. What I really can't stand is when he falls or gets knocked down and it seems to take him forever to get back up. Okay, Johan, you're not a goal scorer, but what do you do? I've been surprised at how little he has been missed. He's supposed to be a top 6 player and yet his absence is hardly noticeable. Helm is out a few games and there's an obvious change in the feel of the lineup. Don't see Franzen returning this season.

#tankitserious

Lol, anyone catch Jimmy shut the door on Sheahan?

Kronwall should be our net front presence on our power play. He screens our goalie perfectly and the puck never hits him.

Well I'm glad Holland is GM

I didn't even know what it was until I Googled it. On a side note, spelling is always important, so don't Google a "crap machine". The person below me refuses to Google "crap machine".