GoalieManPat

I will personally throw down the aisle anyone who brings those stupid whistles to games. Even small children and pregnant women. My favorite FakePavelDatsyuk twitter this whole last year was "I like play in Nashville. They blow whistle for easy shift"

I just threw up in my mouth a little bit.

All that was needed was a "Suck it Canada" at the end.

He very well could be. He broke into the league because of his hard work. Since his lifetime contract he hasnt felt the need to work that hard anymore.

Floating has nothing to do with speed. You can work your ass off and still be slow. It has to do with the fact that you never see Franzen as Mickey would say "picking them up and putting them down". He just coasts around. Power forwards go hard to the net. You cant be a power forward and just glide to the net. Franzen has been gliding the last 3 years.

Most people do. Otherwise they get fired. Most people don't have the luxury of visibly slacking off 5 of 7 days of the week yet still make 4 mill a year. Pro athletes need to be held to a higher standard as they get paid way more than they are worth in the grand scheme of things. I can think of many many professions that deserve that 4 million a year and to see someone just do the bare minimum most nights is infuriating. In my opinion no sports contacts should be guaranteed. It should all be part of a performance matrix.

Exactly. Look back on when Nash has played the Wings. With the terrible line-mates he is always with always still manages to score against he Wings quite a fair bit even with Datsyuk or Zetterbergs line and Lidstrom against him. just think what he could do playing with Pavel.

The problem with Franzens streakyness is that if he is not scoring goals he is essentially useless on the ice. He used to be a hard working checker which is what got him to the league. Once he found a scoring touch he's gotten complacent in doing the little things. He doesnt skate hard and the only "meanness" you see of him is maybe a snarl as hes sitting on the bench. Plain and simple he got lazy. It can be summed up in one specific play that stands out last year. Franzen turns the puck over in the offensive zone near the corner and falls down. He gets up and slowly starts skating up the ice. Helm I believe it was stole the puck around center ice. Waited at the blueline for Franzen to get out atleast 3-4 seconds but then was forced into the zone by a back-checker and thus the play ended offside. All because Franzen instead of skating hard after turning the puck over decided to go on a 10 second pity skate and screw an odd man break the other way.

Youd think the team would send them on a plane lol

Low risk high reward. Im glad the Wings got another option but will hold off on getting excited until he shows how his game will translate to North American hockey.

Interesting article. I don't see Fil as a potential "next" captain but then again I am not in the locker room every day.

In general I really like the new look. Only thing I would recommend is with Franzens picture at the top. It should be faded gray 5 out of 7 days of the week.

For the love of god no. Whatever in his mind makes him think he makes good movies needs to be removed.

We still love ya Vladdie.

What do you expect him to say? Hes not going to trash the team hes still the captain of.

With the Devils run I see Parise staying more than going now.

So he runs back to Europe when told he needed to work on his game in the minors? No thanks. The same thing would happen here with the Wings at some point and then whats he going to do?

Is defense and solid goal-tending a penalty in the Swiss league? In all honesty if he does sign its one of those low risk high reward things. Its just hard to get excited for these players signing. Highlight tapes with bad defense and goal-tending can make me look like an NHL player. Until he proves he can play well in the North American game he just a lowly prospect who should be nowhere near the main squad.

Maybe he'll get his work ethic knocked back into him.

Phoenix has already gotten as many pucks past Rinne as the Wings did and its all because they work there butts off every shift.

I wish Hudler was 6 inches taller and 20-30 lbs heavier. If he was then his work ethic (he does have a high one) would shine as he wouldnt lose so many battles for the puck along the boards. It would also make him alot tougher to play against as hes one of the few people on the team who's first instinct is to take the puck to the net despite his size. Unfortunately he is small. The other major problem is the best small guys in the league are amazing skaters. Hudler is nowhere near an amazing skater. Despite that he does put up points. He deserves a raise but honestly I would be happy if he got it elsewhere. If the Wings have there way in Free Agency I just dont see a spot for him on the roster. You dont want him on your first line and you definitely dont want him down on the checking line.

What do you expect. Have to milk the system as long as possible when your in a bad hockey market.

A young very strong skating grinder with a high compete level. Ya theres no way this team needs that You do realize he was one of the best Wings in camp/preseason until he suffered the ankle injury against Chicago. He didnt look like he shook it the rest of the season but a full summer of healing and recovery should have him back to where he was.

4m for the next 8 years for a player who has said he is not motivated to play in the regular season and then has become invisible in the playoffs the last two years (his only defense for his lackluster regular season was that he "turns it on in the playoffs") is a bad deal.

Awesome game!