LeftWinger

This is a heated debate that I mostly chose to stay out of because everyone and their uncle's know my opinion of Franzen... Folks who hate him, like me, hate him and aren't going to change their minds. Folks who defend him, can only say that his cap hit is great for a player who scores in the 20's. Let's look at it this way: Franz's cap hit is $3.9M, we currently have $11.8M in cap space next season with the need to re-sign Brunner, Andersson, Nyquist, Smith and Kindl all at nice raises. I am really hoping that Filppula gets traded at the draft or just walks, because paying him would take away from that cap space too and we will NEVER be able to get a legit #1 scorer then. Unless we make a trade. (Which I hope we do trade Franzen.) Considering his cap hit, sure $3.9M is a good hit right now, and after paying our kids there won't be much left for that scorer (I would say it'll take about $6M of that $11M to resign the kids, leaving $5M for upgrading our offense. Take away Franzen's $3.9M and all of a sudden you have nearly $9M to find that #1 guy. Buyout Sammy and Bert and gives you even more. and BTW, there is plenty of better players out there who can outscore Franzen that can be had for $3.9M. Pascal Dupuis being one of them. Alex Burrows only makes $600K more than Franzen and is way better... For what Franzen brings to the game, he is NOT worth his cap hit. Just because some owners are willing to WAY overpay for someone else who scores 25 goals, doesn't mean that its the going rate. Franzen's game garner's him $2M a season at the most. Right now, Abdelkader brings more to this team than Franzen does... This team WITH Franzen is going nowhere. Holland should be on the phone right now with his buddy Nill or the Cunucks...those are the only teams I think would take on Franzen. If we keep him, it will hurt us more than it helps. I could see him MAYBE staying if he stays in the bottom six, but really, our bottom six would suffer with him as well... Trade him or buy him out. We can use the roster spot and the $4M.

Very nice post! One thing you could have put in there though... Dear Western Conference Teams, You are very welcome for all the revenue we brought into your buildings! I am sure you will miss it! edit: Is Columbus going East too?

Kenny must have assured him that he will have a supreme scorer on his line soon! Great news! This will solidify his legacy in Detroit. Soon he will be passing Fedorov in many statistical categories...

17. STEVE SANTINI D 6'2 207 R Mar. 7/95 USA U-18 USNTDP 18. FREDERIK GAUTHIER C 6'5 210 L Apr. 26/95 Rimouski QMJHL 19. VALENTIN ZYKOV RW 6'0 210 R Apr. 15/95 Baie-Comeau QMJHL 20. KERBY RYCHEL LW 6'1 200 L Oct. 7/94 Windsor OHL 21. JOSHUA MORRISSEY D 6'0 182 L Mar. 28/95 Prince Albert WHL 22. MADISON BOWEY D 6'1 200 R Apr. 22/95 Kelowna WHL 23. ANTHONY MANTHA F 6'4 190 L Sept. 16/94 Val-d'Or QMJHL ...if any of the bolded players are available and Holland actually takes one of them, I would be VERY happy with him! I see on that list that our boy McCarron has up'd his stock in this draft. I sure hope he is available in the 2nd round to us... I know we talk about size up front and our need for scoring, but I am telling you, that Santini is very interesting. Right handed shooting defenseman, 6'2" 207lbs at 18 years old! By time he makes the Wings (if drafted) he will be every bit of 6'4" 225lbs...of course Gauthier is a big at his age too! He could be a huge forward for us in 4 yrs.

It's amazing how much this team missed Tomas Holmstrom....not one player on this team came anywhere remotely close to doing what he did. I think we need to replace that presence first and foremost. I wonder about the status of Ryan Smythe. If Homer was here, they'd have scored more power play goals this round. ( of course had some taken away too... )

I just say let him walk...we need his roster spot.

Trade Franzgelina to either Vancouver or Dallas...those are the only two teams I see taking on those years...either way, adios! I cannot stand him, he lazed around the entire series for the most part and was barely visible when needed. Hossa didn't go lights out either, but you knew when he was on the ice...that being said, I still think the choice was wrong, but I don't want either of them on this team, we need a new direction. TWO top 6 scorers are needed.

Just as well rather have been swept, no all we get to hear about is the epic comeback by the Hawks...gurgle gurgle... Somewhere in New York City I can picture Uncle Gary:

Filppula - Goodbye Frangelina - Goodbye (see ya in Vancouver) Cleary - Goodbye Bertuzzi - Goodbye Samuelsson - Goodbye This team is a dire need of TWO top 6 scorers....and someone to give Kronwall a blanket party to wake his ass up! Hello! You are the #1 guy here, PLAY LIKE IT! on a side note, so glad I don't have to stop complaining about "The Choice"

No, he was hit from the side...

Major choke job after being up 3-1....Jimmy was responsible for a ton of this playoff run, yet gives up a really soft goal to end it. He has to make that save. No way this choke was his fault though.. I point the finger at two people that I do not want to see in a Wings jersey ever again...Franzine and Filppula.... Everyone else, thank you for a great surprising season!

Oh, but Pillsbury did mention it, but of course there was nothing wrong with that in his eyes...I cannot wait for Detroit to get the winner and watch the classless Chicago fans liter the ice like the fools they are!

Oh geez, NBC says the call was wrong...can they be any more obvious the slappy's that they are? Oh boo hoo, the Hawks got another goal called back....Boo Hoo! Terrible call, terrible timing....I am over it already...I am about to puke

No matter the outcome, Johan Franzen has no business being on this team....he is so horrible.

You have one more game to make me a believer Franzen...let's show up for this one, eh?

Thanks NHL...

Too little too late....

Wtf happened to our team? It ain't over yet, but to blow a 3-1 lead, I'd rather had been swept....refs ruled this game, no one can deny it...

Where the hell is our top 6?

Here we go

What's the Wings record when giving up 3 goals? We need to break that streak...where the hell is playoff Jimmy?

Get ready for about 4 hawks PP's in s row...

Much better period....puck luck is our friend.

So not a penalty....refs in Chicago pocket again...

Thank goodness for that goal....i was getting very frustrated....