kipwinger

I'm not really sure what you're watching. He slams his hand on the glass, it breaks, he points at the ref (or one of the kids) and yells something that sounds like "bulls***" around the :16 second mark. In short, he's a f****** jackass. Edit: Also, seriously, you think the "kick" required that response? Pretty sure the ref on the ice had it under control. I mean, it was quite clearly a super dangerous attack, but looks like the stripes had it handled.

I didn't know his contract was through 2019. I thought he was only signed for a couple more years. The term is the killer on that one. Yikes.

I'm not sure about their cap situation, but if I was Toronto I'd probably claim him.

Totally. Chances are, even if you gave the kid a chance, he'd never make it. I was mostly just trying to see if I could find any.

Is the question, "name players who have played in North America, gone back to Europe, and then returned to North America to have some success?" Jori Lehtera? Jiri Hudler? Mark Streit? Leo Komarov? Brian Rafalski? Johnny Oduya? Radim Vrbata? Anton Babchuk? Robert Lang? Mark Giordano? Jiri Sekac?

I'm confused, what's the debate here?

I never have a problem signing a guy like that to a two way contract, but I'd be really surprised if he could contribute in the NHL right away. The transition from big to small ice takes a while. I'd certainly look into it though.

Sounds like sour grapes to me. Suck it up Slava, you lost bro.

That list shrinks pretty quickly when you consider Holland isn't likely to trade significant roster players if he's trying to make a Cup run (Nyquist, Tatar), role players that Babs really likes (Helm, Abby), no-trade clauses (Weiss), or centers (there's a reason we just drafted 5 of them). Probably your tradeable assets are limited to throwaway guys, defensive prospects, and Jurco/Mantha/Pulkkinen. Of those three, Pulkkinen isn't the only one with a unique skill set. Mantha is perhaps MORE unique given his size, speed, and scoring ability. And as I've said already, given that we've already got Nyquist and Tatar (and no big bodied guys who can score) in Detroit, I don't think it's that unrealistic to think Holland might be ok with moving Pulkkinen. I don't think anybody is saying he should actively be shopped. Or at least I'm not. But given that he's got value, other guys are ahead of him in the depth chart, and other guys are more proven, I don't think he's completely off the table. Or Holland could trade nobody. Or he could trade Jurco, one of the defensive prospects, or Smith. Pulkkinen isn't the only tradeable asset. But it's probably not as big a list as you've made it out to be.

My mistake as well. Your comments came on the heels of speculation that Franzen was deliberately taking extra time to recuperate from injury, despite not needing it. I thought you were adding speculation on his mental health to support that. Nevertheless, I stand behind my two earlier statements. We know why Franzen is out of the lineup, and we know that he's not having a noticeably different year (in terms of production) than previous efforts. So if he is still suffering from anxiety, it doesn't seem to be affecting his ppg too much.

There are all sorts of mental health issues, only some of which deal with emotions. That's the difference. So no, it's not splitting hairs. Otherwise, I agree that it's perfectly reasonable to wonder why a guy's having a down year IF he is indeed having one. However, in this case I think his character is being assassinated based on two things...A) We already know why he's out of the lineup. He's got a neck injury (whiplash) which has been diagnosed. B) He's not having a down year. 22 pts. in 33 games puts him on pretty much the exact same scoring pace as he's produced at for the whole of his career. There's nothing to suggest that his game is suffering, and if it were, there's nothing to suggest it's anything other than the injury sustained during the hit to the head. He's injured. He's not a malingerer, and if he has had (most aren't permanent) mental health issues, there's no reason to believe they're what's keeping him out of the lineup or causing a down year (which he isn't).

Who doesn't love that?

"Overreacting" is an interesting choice of words to use while defending a guy who was yelling, screaming, breaking glass because the refs at a midget hockey game screwed up a penalty call. Lets put it this way, if you find yourself getting angry over a midget hockey game...you're a douchebag.

Equating his acknowledgement of performance anxiety with "emotional issues" not only grossly simplifies whatever it is that holds Franzen back from dominating the NHL, but it also demonstrates a REMARKABLY narrow understanding of mental health issues. Just stop.

I wouldn't say he's been inconsistent. His production hasn't great to begin the season, but once Ouellet came to the big club, Sproul became the primary puck mover in GR and his production increased. Can't speak to his defense, but I can say he's really picked in up offensively after having almost no points in the first quarter of the season.

I think I'd give him the choice of either paying for the glass, or wearing a t-shirt that said "I'm a stupid douchebag" for an entire week. Either one would be fine.

Sure, we have lots of other assets that could be traded. But not too many that "could" be traded, that also have value to other teams. I think we're having a miscommunication of some sort. I say, "I won't be surprised if he's traded", and you respond with "he shouldn't be traded, he's going to be good". I agree with you. He'll probably be pretty good. And it's precisely that reason, and the emergence of Nyquist and Tatar as bona fide stars, which makes me think it's a possibility. In some ways I think I'm starting to understand the way you post, and the way you look at this team. Which might make it easier for us to have productive discussions going forward. You like the Red Wings, and you like certain players, and so your mind will always try to figure out ways to utilize the players you like to help the team you like. But the key point is that the player you like and the team you like be together. I can dig it.

But you have evidence to suspect him of "emotional issues"? This whole thread has turned hokey. Why don't we all stick to Franzen and hockey and not try to assassinate/dissect his character. Regardless of how we feel about him on the ice, there is absolutely NOTHING to suggest he's not a decent, committed, hard working, emotionally stable person.

I suppose the reason I'm saying I wouldn't be surprised if he's traded is because of where he fits onto this team moving forward. Lets say in 3-5 years, who are the Wings potential top six wingers? Nyquist, Tatar, Mantha, Abby, Pulkkinen, and Jurco. Now, he's not really competing with the big bodied guys (Mantha, Abby, Jurco) and Nyquist and Tatar are already proven high scoring NHL players. So as of now, he's the shooting winger on the third line (and obviously a power play specialist) if he continues to develop and have success. I'd never be surprised if a third liner is traded. Particularly if it's for something like a top four defenseman. All I'm saying is that I wouldn't be surprised. Sure he's a shooter, and sure he's right handed. And those things are huge buzz words for the organization. But the shooter thing matters a little less when you've got established goal scorers in Nyquist and Tatar, and an expected goal scorer in Mantha. And the right handedness is more of a need on the back end than the front end. Obviously, you'd like to have both, but if losing a righty up front gains you a righty top four defender, I can see Holland being ok with the trade off.

That would be awesome. That song's the real deal. Do they play it at the Joe? I haven't seen the Wings in Detroit in a couple years.

Well at least his child is too young to be embarrassed by what a stupid, blowhard, jackass his father is.

I think he and Weiss had started developing some decent chemistry by the end there. I agree though, he needs to find the opening and get ready for someone to feed him. He's not going to be able to carry the puck into the zone, wind up, and fire lasers like he does in the AHL. He's going to have to find openings without the puck, and get ready to fire as soon as the puck gets to him. If you watch, a lot of his goals in GR look like this (which probably won't happen in the NHL too much)...

This ain't happening unless he turns it on and completely dominates in the second half of the season.

Is that an assessment you've seen somewhere? I haven't really heard anything about his injury since it happened, but I didn't know know it was anything that serious.

This is one area where I'm a little skeptical of the listed stats, because reported weights fluctuate pretty significantly. I can't tell you how much the kid weighs. What I can say is, when I watched them play in Washington a couple weeks ago he was the tiniest guy on the ice. Nyquist and Tatar looked significantly bigger by comparison. Now, saying that, he doesn't look small and skinny like Landon Ferraro for instance, he looks small but more solid. If you get this kid a nutritionist and pro-level workouts and I don't think 195-200 lbs of explosive muscle is out of the question. And that, to me, really is the difference. It's like Tatar last year (small and weaker) vs. Tatar this year (still smallish, but more powerful). That's what I'd like to see out of Pulkkinen.