kipwinger

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.

I was responding to this.

While it seems like you're just creating a thread to bemoan Franzen...and I agree, he's really frustrating, you do briefly touch on an interesting quandary. Particularly, what to do with him when he's healthy. It's be interesting to see because we are playing well without him in the lineup right now. So do you give Pulkkinen's spot to Franzen, and if so, what do you do with Jurco?

To be honest, I won't be surprised if he's traded before then. Not sure exactly how I feel about that, but I can see it coming.

To me, the biggest thing he's going to have to do is get WAY stronger. He's a little guy. You don't realize it until you see him in person. By comparison, Nyquist and Tatar look like big dudes. Which, I assume, is because of their respective fitness levels. I don't even really care if he gains weight (which he probably will), as long as he just gets WAY stronger. He's got a really low center of gravity, so if he does put on some muscle and/or add some power, he'll win a lot of the battles he loses. Other than his shot, there are a few things I really like about his game. He's got good first step quickness. He can jump on loose pucks and find open spots on the ice as a result. He's also pretty defensively responsible. I noticed him backtracking and checking his coverage a lot. Finally, I really like his aggressiveness. He doesn't play pensive, at all. He jumps into scrums, battles on the boards, and will put his body on the line to make a play. He battles, he's just too weak to win the battles right now. But he's definitely not afraid. He's got an alpha mentality, but right now beta strength. If he can be an explosive 195-200 lbs. (which I don't think is unrealistic given his frame), I think he'll be a really exciting player because he doesn't lack much else.

There are all sorts of rivalries, in all sorts of sports, most of which don't have fighting. Why would it be necessary in this case?

Rivalries happen for a lot of reasons, and they can't be manufactured. That's why they wax and wane. Anybody want to tell me there wasn't a good, healthy, rivalry with Pittsburgh for a couple years after 2008 and 2009? And watch out if Boston and Montreal meet again in the playoffs after Lucic was a ****** and Subban made the Bruins look like assholes. Rivalries can't really be forced, and only relate to history or geography tangentially. Wanna know why the Detroit/Chicago rivalry died? Because Chicago was horrible for 30 years, and once they got good we weren't great. However, let two powerhouse teams meet each other a couple years in a row (with something on the line) and you'll have a pretty good rivalry for a while. Remember Chicago and Vancouver a few years ago. Those games were intense because they were both good and the stakes were high.

Holland knows what he's got with Callahan, Marchenko, and to a lesser extent Pulkkinen. However, Sproul, Mantha, and Ferraro seem like (until recently) they're still in flux. I imagine that's why he's scouting them. He already knows who his most NHL ready guys are, but why not take a look at the next in line guys and see how they've progressed?

We are ******* terrible passers.

Jesus Ericsson, you're baaaaaaaaaaaad. Yikes!

Masterful.

This is one of my all time favorite posts.

Riley was the 20th best player at his position a year ago. Just sayin'.

I actually agree. When Weiss was scoring a point a game (roughly) it was stupid to have him on the fourth line and they should have rode him (and his confidence) for as long as possible. But lately he's been pedestrian...so I can't really blame Babs for demoting him. Hell, Babs has demoted Nyquist and Franzen so far this season when they weren't scoring. Weiss is no exception.