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Yeah, him being AHL-eligible prolly hurts his cause re: making the team out of camp and sticking. I'm hoping he has a lights-out training camp and leaves them with no choice but to make room for him on the roster. And if they stick him on the farm instead, I hope he tears the AHL apart.

I would take a healthy Franzen over a healthy AA 7 days a week and twice on Tuesday. AA stands for Apolo Anton (Ohno). Just because he's fast doesn't make him a good hockey player.

Ya, I thought I heard that. With this being the case, I can see him starting the year in GR but playing his way out very quickly.

2007-2008 playoffs: 4 multi-point games, 5 games without a point, for a total of 18 points in 16 games, 13 of which were goals. He also finished with the most game-winning goals of the playoffs. Absolutely dominant playoff run, even for a superstar caliber player. 2008-2009 playoffs: 6 multi-point games, 7 games without a point, for a total of 23 points in 23 games, 12 of which were goals. He also finished tied for the most game-winning goals in the playoffs. Absolutely dominant playoff run, even for a superstar caliber player. 2009-2010 playoffs: 2 multi-point games, 0 games without a point, for a total of 18 points in 12 games, 6 of which were goals. Absolutely dominant playoff run, even for a superstar caliber player. 2008-2010 totals: 12 multi-point games, 12 games without a point, for a total of 59 points in 51 games, 31 of which were goals I'll let the numbers speak for themselves. They're better than Datsyuk's during the same time frame. Before you begin your hateful tirade about Franzen, I'd like to swing back to the original point... AA has never taken over a road trip, he's never taken over a home series's, he doesn't score multi-point games on a consistent basis, hell he hardly scores at all. Not playing defense to get a breakaway is not "taking over a game". Franzen and AA are hardly comparable at all.

Mos(t) Def(initely) ...but let's be real. I don't doubt Karlsson is going to Tampa Bay, but there's certainly work to be done. Still think the Sens want to dump Bobby Ryan with Karlsson... but I doubt many folks are willing to take that on. ...but a third team gets involved? NJ or the Rags? Especially if the Rangers get involved. You know how they loooovvvveeee to work together. Callahan back to NYC?

The HYPE! is real, regardless of where he plays this season.

The Hockey Guy analyzes the the Wings. Decent watch/listen if you've got the time. I like this guy, tend to agree with him on most things too.

Yep. See: Brendan Shanahan

The trade that just keeps getting worse and worse and worse for Habs fans https://www.tsn.ca/habs-weber-has-knee-surgery-out-5-6-months-1.1131722 Has @frankgrimes officially left us?

Nice! Welcome aboard kid!

I really think he is, but hope I'm wrong...

Which would be fine if we went with 4 somewhat balanced scoring lines... Abdelkader - Larkin - Mantha Bertuzzi - Zetterberg - Zadina Rasmussen - Nielsen - Vanek Svechnikov - Athanasiou - Nyquist There's no way Glendening and Helm aren't in the lineup every night, unless they're injured though. I just don't want to see Athanasiou with Helm and Glendening all season, which is likely what we'd see if he were centering the 4th line.

I want to see AA win more board battles and get better at holding the puck under pressure. Way too easily separated from the puck. I'd also like to see him take a cue from Larkin and really work on his playmaking. Less "I'ma cheat high and you hit me with a stretch pass," more forechecking and cycling and give-and-going. Do something other than trying to get a breakaway or trying to deke around a defender in a one-on-one situation (never works for him). I do think there's something to the argument that playing him on the wing encourages laziness and bad habits in his game. I'd be down with giving him a long look at center. It'd have to be on the fourth line, though.

I don't see how Athanasiou and Franzen are remotely similar in their style of game. Athanasiou is one of the fastest skaters in the league, has great hands, and a decent shot. Franzen was an average skater, decent hands for a big man, great net-front guy, and a lethal shot. Not very similar at all. In saying that, I don't think it's really fair to compare them at all. Franzen was streaky (most goal scorers are) but when he was on, he was one of, if not the most dominant players in the entire league. Athanasiou can break a game open with his lethal speed, but he hasn't yet been able to dominate a single game, let alone a stretch of games. I believe AA does have the potential to get there. He has all the skill in the world, it's just a matter of putting it all together, and putting in the work to get there. People seem to forget that he's just 23 years old (24 to start this season). Franzen didn't play his first NHL game until he was 26! Let's see where Athanasiou is in a couple years once he matures a little as a player, and (hopefully) develops more of a two-way game.

There were only 4 regulars that weren't a minus last season. Nobody higher than a +3. Larkin was a -9.

2007, 2008 & 2009 Franzens playoff performance was amazing, he scored 31 goals in 51 games He was one of the best playoff performers of any team in any recent years...However in his career he had 187 goals in 602 games, so riddle me why you guys are so focused of his 3 good playoff appearances? AA has one playoff under his belt and it was 1 goal in 5 games played and I hope he gets to play in more soooooon. AA has most certainly taken over at certain parts of games, his speed and skill lead to many tie ups as well as games winners. He could be quiet all game then score the tying goal at the end of the period and the game winner 6 seconds into overtime. I not once compared anything to franzens playoff performances because-as his stats point out were pretty fluky to how he performed overall. My point was comparing skillsets-Franzens was great hands, great shot and big size as AA doesn't have great size but makes up for it with his great speed, and also has great hands and a great shot. This was my only comparison and I believe it is more important during our transition then the likes of Helm, Abby or Glendening. That was my point.

Im hearing that Erik Karlsson deal to Tampa Bay should be finialized shortly...waiting on details.

I have to disagree. Quite the impressive variety of goals. After watching I am even more glad we re-signed him.

Not saying AA is Franzen, but ease up, Franzen took over ONE series in ONE playoff year, Colorado 2008. He had 9 goals in 4 games that series. But he only had 4 more goals in the other 3 series. Then in 2009, he had 12 goals in 23 games. The other playoffs he was totally invisible. So no, he never took over entire playoff series, one after another for multiple consecutive seasons. He played ONE four game series where he took over. Much like his entire career. 10 goals in 4 games, disappear for 25 games after.

Way to complicate things a-hole

All of THIS. Do we really need to do to our very green (no relation,) very young defensive prospects what many a team has done during a rebuild? "Hey! Throw 'em out there! There's no better way to learn than to just play in the league!" How's that worked out? Unless they were high end talent with a winning culture around them. Not. Very. Effn'. Well. Also -- Green wasn't signed to get us to the playoffs. Green is a band-aid trying to cover up a giant sucking wound on the back-end.

http://www.writehumanity.com/case-firing-marc-bergevin-open-letter-geoff-molson/ Just passing by...

This was an attempt at being passive aggressive.