47 replies to this topic

[Frozen-Man]

I never thought at the start of the year that Franzen would have a 20 (probably plus) goal scoring season this year. I have been really impressed with the way that he has been coming on lately. It seems to me that there may be some good effects of all the February injuries as several of our guys have finally contributing.

[WhiteLightning91]

I didn't think he would but Babcock was counting on him to. You have to remember that at the beginning of the year Franzen-Datsyuk-Holmstrom made up the first line until Johan got hurt. After losing Lang, Williams, and Schneider's goals, management was relying on Franzen to be one of those guys who would replace what we had lost.

[Majsheppard]

Uhhhh yes and no.....


I have long since been a proponent of Franzen, but I really didn't think he would ever get time. I thought for sure Cleary Zetter Pavel Hudler Filpulla and Sammy would get all the time.

I knew if he got the chance he could do this, he has the potential to be far greater then Homer over a career.

Now if Babs will wake up and keep him on the second line!!! Instead of bumping him!

[WhiteLightning91]

Now if Babs will wake up and keep him on the second line!!! Instead of bumping him!

Not to piss on your parade...

When the playoffs roll around and the Detroit Red Wings get all of their injured forwards back, coach Mike Babcock envisions Johan Franzen as his third-line center.

He's a big, strong player who can match up physically against some of the Western Conference's good-sized centers, like San Jose's Joe Thornton and Anaheim's Ryan Getzlaf.

From Ansar Kahn at MLive

Edited by WhiteLightning91, 17 March 2008 - 04:53 PM.

[Majsheppard]

Not to piss on your parade...


From Ansar Kahn at MLive

Yeah I know. I read that already... which is why I said Babs needs to wake up.

Franzen clearly belongs with Cleary on the second line!

Though if its him Draper and Mac, it might work out okay. Malts and Drake on the fourth. I still don't like Sammy up on second though.

Edited by Majsheppard, 17 March 2008 - 05:00 PM.

[gcom007]

I thought he'd turn it on sooner or later this season. He was on track to do it last year but when he got ran it really threw his game off. But he's just too hard of a worker to not find this kind of success and with more confidence, experience and ice time, he's only going to get better. I love the guy on this team.

[Deke]

Yeah I know. I read that already... which is why I said Babs needs to wake up.

Franzen clearly belongs with Cleary on the second line!

Though if its him Draper and Mac, it might work out okay. Malts and Drake on the fourth. I still don't like Sammy up on second though.

The way Nicky and Dats have been finding him lately I say he belongs on the first line for at least a few shifts. I say swap him and homer around several times a game to keep the other team guessing. At least one of them will no doubt produce some offense. The way Franzen has been playing lately, he's as good as Homer was at the beginning of the season. Maybe even better.

[kylee]

im happy to see Franzen put some pucks in the net. he seems to be playing to his potention (a frequent scorer and hustling and using his body)


lets see some more the rest of the regular season and into the playoffs!


good job mule!

[GordieSid&Ted]

I never thought at the start of the year that Franzen would have a 20 (probably plus) goal scoring season this year. I have been really impressed with the way that he has been coming on lately. It seems to me that there may be some good effects of all the February injuries as several of our guys have finally contributing.

No way did I think he would get 20 this year.

I thought Dats and Z would be monsters.

I thought Cleary would bag 20+

I thought Homer would bag 20+

and that's it.

I never thought Flip, Hudler or Franzen would get to 20. No matter what the slappies said I never thought these guys would be the secondary scoring we need.

Huddles is still a waste even if he does have a wicked release. Flip will be fantastic someday and Franzen is the heir apparent to Homer. Even plays like Homer does. He gets into it with people and isn't afraid to shove back. Although he'll never be a glove dropper I think he'll wind up with a few more 5's for fighting than Homer during their careers.

[redwings56]

I wouldn't care if he only had 10 goals again, he is 2/3 as skilled as Pavs (which is saying alot, I think they have very similar hands, its just Pavs is 2times better than any player in the whole league, Kovalev excepted -maybe Jamy too) and he has size and skates REALLY REALLY HARD. He also has a good hockey mind like Z and Pavs.

All in all I really liked him last year, he hustles a lot and overall a good useful player.

But to answer your question, yes I did think he would get more than 20 at the start of year, but not after he went 20 or so games into season to get first goal (injured of course, but still)

[YoungGuns1340]

No. Many people thought he would have 30 goals this season.

[SnipeShow]

I remember a thread at the beginning of the season about the first line of
Franzen - Datsyuk - Holmstrom

and people were ranting about them because they tore it up in the preseason

I'm pretty sure some people had him pegged as the rocket richaurd winner on this forum.

I figured 20 would be his minimum (until he got hurt)

Edited by SnipeShow, 17 March 2008 - 06:43 PM.

[Bluedevils_13]

This year we have six 20-goal scores, two of which being 30+ goal scores, who should all be able to repeat that next year also. We also have another forward capable of potting 20 in Hudler, i they can stay consistent our offense looks good going into the playoffs.

[Hatethedrake!]

I never thought at the start of the year that Franzen would have a 20 (probably plus) goal scoring season this year. I have been really impressed with the way that he has been coming on lately. It seems to me that there may be some good effects of all the February injuries as several of our guys have finally contributing.

I would have been surprised if Franzen did not score 20 this year. We've seen glimpses in the past how he can score goals including last year's playoffs. But man what does Mickey Redmond have against the Mule? He rips him every game. Give the guy a break! He's doing just fine. Leave him alone. He should be ripping Hudler or Samuelsson. Both!

[Rice]

The secondary scoring issue isn't looking like too much of an issue anymore...at least on paper.

Zetterberg has 36 goals, will probably finish the season with around 40. He would've scored more had he stayed healthy, obviously. Datsyuk has 28, should score 30. Cleary, Franzen, and Holmstrom all have 20 goals and have all missed some pretty significant time due to injuries this season. Filppula has 19 which will likely end up being 20 or more by the time the season is over.

That should work out to one 40 goal scorer, one 30 goal scorer, and four 20 goal scorers. That's very solid. The Wings also have probably the most offensively-capable top-four defensemen in the NHL.

[vangvace]

This year we have six 20-goal scores, two of which being 30+ goal scores, who should all be able to repeat that next year also.

I had to look this up because I just couldn't believe it with all of the secondary scoring talk. Nice. Might even hit 8 20+ guys next year if things go well.

[GMRwings1983]

You guys are forgetting that our 2nd line scoring has been horribly inconsistent all year. Franzen has been non-existent this year until the last few weeks.

Likewise, Flip has been on and off this year with his scoring. He started the season cold as an iceberg, and had one stretch when Hank was hurt, where he lit things up offensively. Ever since then, he's come down to earth somewhat.

Hudler had a stretch where he scored in several consecutive games, but he's dead in the water right now.

The only thing that has remained constant is that each time any of these 3 players play well for a period of a week or two, people here start overreacting and making those guys out to be better than what they are. One more week of this, and people here will project Franzen as a future 40 goal scorer like they did before the season started.

[RedStormRising]

Personally I was expecting a 40 goal season from the Mule. However, he is currently underachieving and needs to get his act together...

[Sentonial Debut]

oh i've been a franzen guy ever since the beginning of last season.  just look at the signature

[wingslogo19]

To be honest, I didn't think he would score more than 20 goals.. That being said, I love how he's playing lately and needs to keep on scoring and through the playoffs too