b.shanafan14

That is priceless! So great to see Mr. All KHL, All World Everything sucking ass. Could tell in the Wings series he gets frustrated easily and has a tendency for the tantrum. Plays like a diva and upset he can't dominate the big boys league. He'll be back in the K next season. Adios.

Wish the Wings had played like the 'Yotes, and the Preds had played like... well... the Preds

Getting paid millions to play a game?

Please god, no Semin. He has a lot of offensive potential, but he will essentially be a much more expensive Franzen. He is streaky, soft, and has a terrible attitude. He disappears for long stretches and floats the same as Franzen. Also, there is no way with the cap going up and scorers being a hot commodity that the Wings could get him for less than around $6 mil/season. Not worth it.

First off, I'm fairly certain he was kidding/using hyperbole, not actually suggesting losing Franzen's production for nothing. Other than that, have you not seen Franzen's play the last few years or heard/read any of the things coming from his own mouth? Its not all LGW hysteria, the guy has a terrible attitude. The point of the thread is Franzen and his s***ty attitude, not Franzen as the only reason the Wings lost. So to avoid that easy out for everyone still pro-Franzen, I'll say this officially: Johan Franzen is not the reason the Detroit Red Wings lost. However, the way some people can defend a guy who is basically Robert Lang 2.0 with tenure is absurd to me. Look passed the fact that the Wings lost and look at the way the guy plays and carries himself publicly. And again, as I said, Babcock was speaking about why the team lost, saying it wasn't just Franzen, which we have now established. Using that one line as a pardon for Franzen's play, effort, and attitude is just plain flawed. Babcock has made several indicting statements about the player himself within that context. And we've also established that Babcock's hands are tied as far as how to deal with the situation, and that especially now, with the season over, it does him and the organization no good to elaborate and just how bad Franzen has been. Why s*** on his trade value? And if they are planning to keep him, what good does it do at this point to humiliate a guy who is such a pouter as it is?

You gotta think Babcock has been handcuffed by Franzen's contract. Franzen was called out a few times this year by the coach, and that post-elimination presser was a prime example ("ask him"). However, the guy is signed for the next 8 years, and it was very high-profile when they did it (cap circumvention discussion). If Franzen gets the long-term demotion that he has earned, now we have a guy earning $5.25mil on a franchise contract playing on the 3rd or 4th line. Huge lightning rod for the organization and guaranteed Kenny loses face, not to mention killing any chance of moving him now or in the coming seasons. So instead, Franzen is publicly handled with kid gloves, and his demotions are short, meant as a "shot across the bow", but really having no effect. Its out of Babcock's hands, but he sent a pretty clear message when he dropped Mr. Playoffs to the 4th line in the 3rd period of what would be the Wings last game.

Hahaha HOLY s***! Outta nowhere!!! YOTES!

No shots coming for the Yotes, need to quit playing in their own zone or they're screwed

Preds still getting a PP every 4 minutes. GO YOTES

Or bored. Or not having enough fun.

Closer to 40 than 25-30 is what I said. And no, closer to 40 than 25-30 for a guy getting paid $5.25 million/season, averaging $3.9 million over the length of 11 seasons. The point of a front loaded contract is to lessen the cap, but that doesn't mean he is expected to only perform his cap hit, otherwise what happens when he declines like he has already been trending to do? If he is worth $3.9 when he is making $5.25, what happens in 2-3 seasons? or 5? or 8? The guy was essentially franchised. How long is the cap hit going to be excuse for not keeping up his part of the bargain and phoning it in? Honestly, if his scoring didn't improve a single point, but he checked, and skated, and WORKED consistently, folks would get off his back, but he doesn't. What kind of numbers do people think he would put up if Babcock finally demoted him for his laziness, and his ice time and linemates matched his effort? Hell, he finally got said demotion to the 4th line, in the 3rd period of the elimination game

Hahahaha shiiiiiiittt... that was a beaut!

Seeing Franzen in the last few seasons, whether he is drawing the tougher defensive match-up or not thanks to being on a line with Datsyuk, its not like the guy is spending all his time checking and back-checking. In fact, I don't think I've seen him do so in a long time. He floats, offensive zone or defensive zone. He stops doing that and THEN his production, and really, his overall effectiveness will increase. I agree, he would be great in a complimentary role. Unfortunately, the guy was signed to an 11-year contract expecting him to be closer to 40 goals than 25-30 while continuing to do the things that got him on the team in the first place. He has done neither. If he put in the effort, the expectations are more than reasonable. Even if you are somehow content with his play at $4m/season now, how will we feel about his play and attitude in 2 or 3 years at the same price? or 5 years? or 8? The difference between Franzen and Hudler is this: Franzen is not limited by his skill-set, he's limited by his attitude. Hudler, for all his potential to float, does manage to reach the ceiling of his effectiveness given his lack of speed and size. Hudler is also signed as a complimentary player. Franzen is signed as a top scoring-winger, a big body to make his team better. Both players are signed to contracts appropriate for how they are CAPABLE of playing. Franzen, however, chooses to make excuses rather than do the job he is hired to do. Complimentary players get 3-5 year contracts, not 11-year contracts. Complimentary players get paid $2.5-4mil/season, not the $5.25mil/season Franzen is getting paid at the moment.

Here's a good way to look at Franzen's production (his only defensible position left) in comparison to a Wings' fan favorite: Robert Lang had 62 point in 72 games for the Wings. (a better season than any of Franzen's past... ever) Robert Lang was LAZY and he SUCKED. Robert Lang wasn't on the top line, getting all his minutes with a player the caliber of Datsyuk (ahem...) Robert Lang was LAZY and he SUCKED. Robert Lang wasn't granted an 11-year contract. (that's good...) Robert Lang didn't complain to the media every time he spoke to them about things being boring. (what self-respecting player would?) ...Johan Franzen is LAZY and he SUCKS

Leading the team with 29 goals, averaging around 27 or so, playing on a line with an elite among elite centers, providing zero outside of scoring, while his scoring plateaus, and having an awful attitude that surfaces every time he talks to the media. First it was "wait until playoffs", now its "the regular season was good enough, I guess". But don't let the trend dampen the next 8 years of his contract... EDIT: Had to bolden the most important parts that some people aren't quite getting. Think there is a problem with effort and attitude in the locker room these days? Hmmm... can't think of why.

He got an 11-year contract with the greatest franchise in modern hockey after a single great playoff effort and hopefully unlocked potential, and the latter will define his career. Endless string of excuses as to why said potential is not being reached year-after-year, without mentioning the one obvious reason: zero effort and complete financial security. "Franchise" someone based 75% on potential and he'll start to think his potential is enough to win

I can't stress this enough: you HAVE to stop dismissing all opinions that differ from your own as being uninformed. We were all speaking specifically about their current prospects, not just folks drafted by the former GM. You've neglected to do that. All you've added is that 1) you know more, 2) they have a new GM who helped build a cup winning Anaheim team and a team in Pittsburgh that was built the same way the Blackhawks and soon-to-be Oilers are being built: get top pick and take top player, and 3) they beat good teams multiple times during their last regular season, which resulted in missing the playoffs, again (even though as a Wings fan you should know that they always turn in stinkers against bottom-dweller). No one has said Parise and Suter are a lock for the Wings. No one has bagged on the Minnesota prospect pool. You're the only one being contentious and pretentious about your opinion. Minnesota doesn't have a good track record, and citing a supposedly elite prospect pool (which should be an oxymoron) as a reason why the Wild is better off than the Wings and thus a better destination for free agents is a flawed argument, which is the reason for us discussing Wild vs. Wings prospects in a thread about signing Zach Parise Others have demonstrated knowledge enough to break-down each team's best prospects and the consensus is that difference in prospect pool + current NHL product =/= Wild as the better team. Toews. Kane. Stamkos. Those are the only type of "can't miss" draft signings there are these days. The Wild need Top 3 forwards, Top 2 defenseman. Even if they got 2 or 3 Filppulas and 1 or 2 Kronwalls out of their current pool, they'll lack what it takes to make a legitimate run at the cup. And that's assuming they adjust immediately to the big leagues, unlike Filppula or Kronwall. Contribute to the conversation and argue your point all you like, but you've provided nothing that justifies dismissal of others points as inferior to your own

While the team as a whole definitely needs a shake up, I do find it pretty strange that 1) the few occasions Franzen talks to the media, its always negative, and 2) the only time lack of motivation or complaints about things being 'boring' or 'needing more fun', its always Franzen. It was funny to some a few seasons ago when he followed up a s***ty season with a good playoff and quipped about the regular season being too 'boring' for the golden god of playoffs. Now its become a trend of excuse making and whining about his own attitude and its reflected on the ice. Its not hard to see this guy has a terrible attitude, a (im)potent cocktail of apathy, laziness, entitlement, and self-pity. He'd look great in Maple-Leaf-Blue.

Apple. Orange. Nothing about BOK raises an eyebrow, curved curtain wall. Feasibility aside, the Edmonton arena proposal is a LONG way from being a developed building design. Fun PR stuff, but hardly proof of a viable project.

Article says construction beginning in 2015, and even that is subject to change. Comparing a developed idea like BOK to shiny curves with lighting effects is apples to oranges. Like I said, worth keeping an eye on, and the shapes themselves are not impossible, but time and budget will dictate that, as will code and the actual function of an arena. But as far as a building, I don't see it. I see jingling keys

Any of these look familiar? I really would have hoped the firm on the job could have come up with something a bit more substantial and "fleshed out", rather than some preliminary ideas sculpted by a tech-savvy intern with some cool lighting effects. That was supposed to be proof that a new arena was on its way? Don't get me wrong, its cool and all, but holds no greater weight beyond the images themselves.

Cool images, but I agree with the Mayor. Its easy to throw out these beautifully rendered, detail-less forms with pretty lights and get everyone excited for USS Enterprise Arena, its another thing to add realistic construction detail, building codes, functional constraints, and budget. It's worth keeping an eye on, but right now its just a VERY pretty example of sculpture at the building scale; not functional architecture. If it does get done it will look NOTHING like that, in form or texture. Its the building version of a concept car. /architectsopinion

Here's my prediction: Lidstrom returns next season and wins Norris number 8 after everyone thinks he is through This year its a toss up. For my money, Weber does what Chara does a little better or equally well with less size advantage. Karlsson is great, and SHOULD be great for a long while, but as of now is all offense. It will be interesting to see how he progresses in the coming years, considering Mike Green was lighting it up offensively enough to get Norris nomination a few seasons ago but has since been hampered by injury and suck. I'll bet $2,500 that Weber wins it this year

Does anyone think Luongo can be considered elite anymore? Good save percentage and all, but has the tendency to let in real stinkers and seems to get rattled kind of easily. Granted, he was in Vancouver, but does his play really warrant the absurd contract? Is anyone going to want to take the biggest goaltending contract in the league for a guy who wasn't even deemed the best goaltender on his team? It will be interesting to see which desperate team makes a pitch. I for one would sooner jump off the Mackinac Bridge than invite him here.

Yeah, I don't see it either. I guess I don't see much difference, and pretty much all of the prospects mentioned here have "top-six" potential, but you don't win Cup with potential. I don't see how the Wild have a brighter future than the Wings based on prospects alone. Factor in that basically anything can happen with these young developing players, and its often a crap-shoot. Nyquist looks like top-six talent at the NHL level and he still has a ways to go as far as physical development is concerned. Smith could land anywhere from 2-5 on the back-end. Counting all the prospects from both teams, do the Wild have more promising prospects than just those two soon-to-be regulars on the Wings? As I said, its most likely a wash. More than likely, the Wild will continue to be the same franchise they have been: not bad enough to be gifted a game-breaker in the draft, not good enough to make a serious run. Of course, if they can add a player like Parise, that may all change.